COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs
By Regina Mysliwiec, MD, MS
How well is the vaccination effort going in Clatsop County?
Our local vaccination effort is going smoothly. According to the Oregon Health Authority, as of Jan. 5, 2021, Clatsop County's vaccination rate was higher than any other county in Oregon.
Columbia Memorial Hospital has nearly finished distributing its first 700 doses of the Moderna vaccine for COVID-19. Following state guidelines, the first doses were given to emergency and urgent care staff, hospital caregivers, providers and staff of non-CMH clinics, and first responders.
Providence Seaside Hospital also received doses of the Moderna vaccine in December and began giving vaccinations, too.
Is the vaccine safe for me?
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were tested on thousands of people and found to be safe and effective for most adults. There are only two contraindications or reasons not to receive the vaccine: if you have an active COVID-19 infection or have had an allergic reaction to one of the ingredients in the vaccine. If you're concerned, read the FDA fact sheets online for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
Some groups of people were not included in the initial studies. They should talk with their doctor before getting vaccinated, these include pregnant women and people with suppressed immune systems.
Can my children get vaccinated?
Unfortunately, not yet. Children were not included in the first vaccine studies, so we can't be sure that the vaccines available are safe for them. Trials of the vaccines in kids are underway now. Hopefully these studies will soon show that the vaccines are as safe and effective for children as they are for adults.
When can I go back to normal life?
We've all been making sacrifices—changing holiday plans, juggling work and kids doing online school, wearing masks in public, and staying in when we want to go out. Getting vaccinated is the next step in ending the pandemic and reclaiming some normalcy.
However, the vaccine is just one tool in our arsenal against the COVID-19 pandemic. We must continue practicing the good habits we've developed to keep ourselves and our community safe from COVID-19 until the number of infections drops dramatically.
The pandemic and the restrictions will end, one way or another. Our actions now will determine how deadly the pandemic is in our community before it ends. We've lost three neighbors to this disease. Let's do what we can to prevent the spread of COVID-19 so we don't lose more.
Dr. Regina Mysliwiec is the medical director of CMH's Emergency Department. She is a key member of the Columbia Memorial Hospital's COVID-19 response team.