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COVID-19 vaccines could arrive in late 2020.
Sarah Tew / CNET
For the most up-to-date news and information on the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO website.
America is preparing for tens of millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses are yet to come by the end of 2020 and have questions. How many vaccines will there be and how will they be administered? It’s free or you will have to pay? How long will you personally have to wait to receive it and can you choose which brand of vaccine to receive?
Here’s everything we know so far about the coronavirus vaccine and what to expect when it arrives.
How many vaccines against the coronavirus will there be?
Dozens of candidate vaccines are being developed around the world, but two of them, Pfizer and Moderna, claim to be 95% and 94% effective, respectively, against the coronavirus. Both have applied for emergency approval of the Food and Drug Administration to start vaccines already at the end of december.
Pfizer and Moderna use a type of vaccine technology that focuses on SARS-CoV-2 virus mRNA (that’s the official name of the coronavirus). Other types of vaccines are expected to emerge, such as those from Novavax and AstraZeneca in association with the University of Oxford.
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How many people will get vaccinated against COVID-19 first?
Pfizer and Moderna are increasing production, but we know that initially there will be up to 50 million doses of vaccines in 2020 from Pfizer and 20 million doses from Moderna. In 2021, we can expect to see 1.3 billion from Pfizer and between 500 million and 1 billion doses from Moderna.
After the initial vaccination, a second dose will be required after a set period of weeks (depending on the vaccine you receive, it could be three or four weeks). This is necessary for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. As a result, 20 million doses, for example, can vaccinate 10 million people. The United States has a population of approximately 330 million.
Is the COVID-19 vaccine an injection or something else?
The current immunization works as a series of two injections given several weeks apart for full inoculation to take place. There may be another way to get vaccinated in the future, such as an infusion, where the vaccine is given through an IV.
You will need to receive two doses of the coronavirus vaccine, weeks apart.
Sarah Tew / CNET
When can I get the vaccine? Is there an order for who gets it first?
Yes. Since doses are so limited, states will prioritize which groups of people will be first in line to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. An advisory group to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made a recommendation that the CDC could adopt. But each state will have the last word.
So far, all of the major global and national recommendations put healthcare workers at the top of that list, with the general population last. Depending on who it is, you may have to wait until spring or summer, when there are enough vaccinations for everyone, to be able to get immunized. Here is a more complete list of who is likely to get the COVID-19 vaccine first (and last).
How will I know when I can get vaccinated? What do I do while I wait for a vaccine to arrive?
Your state and local healthcare provider will begin communicating who can get the COVID-19 vaccine first and how to do it. We will be attentive to more details and will update this section when we know more.
Meanwhile, health experts emphasize that you should continue wearing a mask, socially stay away from people outside your home, and wash your hands to slow the spread of disease. The United States currently has more than 14 million reported cases, with more than 276,000 known deaths, as infections continue to rise alongside record-breaking hospitalizations.
Can I choose which coronavirus vaccine to receive?
It is not clear whether you will be able to choose which brand or type of vaccine you will get. This may depend on how many doses of the vaccine are available in your area and what line you are on to receive it.
It also depends on whether you live near a medical facility with “ultra-cold medical-grade freezers,” USA Today reports, since the Pfizer vaccine must be kept in cold temperatures and on dry ice. Moderna vaccine, on the other hand, can be stored at temperatures between 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 30 days, making it much more accessible.
Note that once you get the first shot, you will have to stick with that brand for the second shot.
Everyone in the US could get vaccinated in June.
Sarah Tew / CNET
When will the vaccine be available to everyone?
Everyone in the US could be vaccinated against COVID-19 in June, according to Moncef Slaoui, the federal government’s top science advisor for Operation Warp Speed. Dr. Anthony Fauci, America’s leading infectious disease expert, expects anyone to have access to the vaccine between April and June 2021.
When you Getting the coronavirus vaccine, however, will depend on which group you belong to. You can get it in January if you are a healthcare worker, or you may have to wait until June if you are a younger adult with no pre-existing conditions.
How much will the coronavirus vaccine cost?
Regardless of whether you have health insurance or not, the COVID-19 vaccine will be free for all Americans, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The government organization also said it plans to make sure it can reimburse you for any FDA-approved coronavirus treatment that it charges you.
But just because the vaccine itself is free doesn’t mean you won’t get a bill. Many providers may legally charge an administration fee for administering the injection to patients, according to the CDC. However, you can file a claim with your insurance company, as they are required to cover approved preventive care under the Affordable Care Act.
Read more: The COVID-19 vaccine may be free, but you might still see a bill. This is what we know
Even if you get the vaccine, you must wear a mask, per CDC guidelines.
Anne Dujmovic / CNET
Where can I get the vaccine once I’m here? Does it have to be in a hospital?
Like the flu vaccine, you can likely receive the coronavirus vaccine at pharmacies, clinics, hospitals, doctor’s offices, and health departments. A representative for Walgreen told CNET that its pharmacies would distribute COVID-19 vaccines to customers, but did not say when.
Schools and community centers are also likely to serve as vaccination sites at first, to accommodate more people, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The organization also says states will need to approve “hundreds or thousands of vaccine delivery partners and site locations.”
What happens after I get the COVID-19 vaccine? Can I go where I want?
Once you receive the first coronavirus vaccine, you will receive a vaccination card that details which vaccine you received and when to return for the second.
After receiving both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC recommends that you continue to practice social distancing and wear a mask when in public. The CDC says it is important to do so as “experts learn more about the protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide in real-life conditions.”
Although the scientific evidence so far shows reinfection is rareThere is still a lot we don’t know about the new virus. That is why it is important to follow CDC guidelines to protect yourself and others from the coronavirus, whether you have received the vaccine or not.
For more information on the coronavirus vaccine, here is everything you need to know about the coronavirus vaccines launching this year Y CDC’s priority list of who will get the vaccine first.
The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be medical or health advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health goals.
