TALK JXN
COVID-19
Vaccinations Underway As State Grapples With Logistics by Julian Mills and Nick Judin
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or many of the most vulnerable Mississippians, the COVID-19 vaccine has arrived. There are a number of ways you can schedule your vaccine, but the process may take time. More Mississippians are waiting for the vaccine than the present supply allows. Still, new availabilities open up on a daily basis. If you qualify, continue checking back regularly.
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Who Qualifies?
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Age 18-64
with medical condition Cancer; Chronic kidney disease; COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease); Down Syndrome; Heart conditions (heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy); Immunocompromised state (solid organ transplant); Obesity, Pregnancy, Sickle cell disease, Smoking, Diabetes, Any other medical conditions as determined by your medical provider.
Age 65 and up
Healthcare Workers
All Mississippians 65 years of age and older automatically qualify for vaccinations, with no underlying conditions necessary.
All healthcare workers, including support staff such as technicians, contractual staff, food service employees and others, qualify for the vaccine. SOURCE: MSDH
Which Vaccine?
~95% Efficacy Second Dose 3 weeks after 1st
Pfizer First Shot
Moderna ~94.5% Efficacy Second Dose 4 weeks after 1st
Ideal Second Shot Window 4 Days
Moderna First Shot
4 Weeks
Ideal Second Shot Window 4 Days
If you miss your ideal second-dose window, don’t panic. Getting your second dose within several weeks of the optimal day shows only a minor reduction in effectiveness. Thus far, MSDH has detected only an extremely small number of minor allergic reactions to the vaccine. Still, everyone should wait between 15-30 minutes after their shot to make sure they don’t have an adverse reaction to the vaccine. Emergency care for any allergic reaction is provided at all vaccination sites.
Your second dose should be scheduled at the same location, and for the same brand of vaccine as the first. MEDICAL VECTOR CREATED BY STARLINE - WWW.FREEPIK.COM
3 Weeks
SOURCE: CDC AND MSDH
more VACCINE INFO, p 8
January 20 - February 2, 2021 • jfp.ms
Pfizer
Both of the vaccines that are widely available provide virtually equivalent protection. 94-95% efficacy means that two groups were compared in largescale trials last year. The unvaccinated (control) group received a placebo, and caught the virus at roughly 20 times the rate as the vaccinated group. Just as importantly, of the 21 severe cases of COVID-19 among both trials, only a single case had been vaccinated.
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