Fauci receives his first dose of the mrndoderna axvaccine along w other top officials. A new cove ed strain appears to be more contagious. Answering our questions, we turn to dr. Natalie azar. Good morning to you. There have been reports from britain and south africa of new coronavirus strains that appear to spread more easily. It’s scary when you hear about it.
For people watching this morning is there reason for alarm and should we be concerned that the current vaccines won’t protect against these new strains? yeah, right. Sheinelle, experts physically look at three things when have are variants to a virus, how easily it spreads, the disease it causes and whether or not there’s protection. Yes, about 50% to 70% more transmissible.
At the moment does not appear to be, to cause more severe illness, although experts urged caution. There is a lag following infection when hospitalizations and deaths can occur. Regarding whether or not it can provide protection. At the moment, experts are saying that it’s unlikely that the vaccine will not be effective against this new strain. I will say, though, currently doing studies, antibodies from those who recover and received the vaccine and doing lab experiments to see whether or not it neutralized the variant.
keep us posted on that. currently in phase 1a of vaccine distribution. Health care workers, long-term care facility residents to get the vaccine. Cdc voted sunday on a recommendation for future phases as well. So who is going to get the vaccine next? right, dylan. In phase 1b, individuals who are age 75 and older as well as what are called frontline essential workers.
This includes folks, first responders, teachers, folk whose work in food and agriculture, postal service, transit. Then phase 1a inc, age 65 to 74 well as people age 60 to 64 with underlying conditions such as kidney disease, cancer, obesity. And remainder of essential worker, work in i.t., public safety, water. Phase 1b 49 million pshgs face phase 1b 49 million pshgs face 1c about 129 million people. dr. Azar, don’t have to answer but still going to ask. Have you gotten the vaccine yet? we just got our notification this morning, late last night when asleep.
I’m scheduling it. This morning or tomorrow. and the pfizer vaccine? it’s my understanding we are still doing the pfizer vaccine here, yes. and quick, let you get out of here. There have been a number of reports you know about allergic reactions to the vaccines. If people experience an eletteringic reaction what should they do? well, the first thing, craig, to avoid that scenario. Right? So number one, you’re going to talk to your health care provider.
There was a slight modification from last week. You may recall that the cdc said certainly that if you had had an allergic reaction to anything in the current vaccine, you should not receive that vaccine, and last week they said ever had an allergy to an injectable product or vaccine, you shouldn’t get it and now saying you can have a conversation with your health care provider that that is still on the table for you, and in addition if you’ve had allergic reactions to food or medications, but to prevent that from happening, what do you do if you’ve had an allergic reaction, you want to have that vaccine in a place that has the.
