Guides and Tutorials: COVID-19 Vaccines: COVID-19 Vaccines Home

GENERAL INFORMATION

World Health Organization - COVID-19 vaccines
You can follow the status of COVID-19 Vaccines within WHO EUL/PQ evaluation process; Read "vaccines explained" series and more.
FDA - Vaccine Basics
Typical vaccine development process starting in the lab through post-FDA-approval monitoring
HHS - COVID-19 Vaccines
Vaccines will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and bring this pandemic to an end. As Americans get vaccinated over the next few months, it is important to continue to follow public health safety measures. Wear a mask, wash your hands, avoid crowds, and watch your distance to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community.
CDC - Vaccines for COVID-19
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. After you’ve been fully vaccinated, you can start to do some things that you had to stop doing because of the pandemic.
Key Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines
What is known and what is still being learned
CDC - Benefits of Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine
COVID-19 vaccination will help keep you from getting COVID-19

EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION

FDA - Emergency Use Authorization for Vaccines Explained
FDA is globally respected for its scientific standards of vaccine safety, effectiveness and quality. The agency provides scientific and regulatory advice to vaccine developers and undertakes a rigorous evaluation of the scientific information through all phases of clinical trials, which continues after a vaccine has been approved by FDA or authorized for emergency use.
FDA - Path for COVID-19 Vaccine from Research to Emergency Use Authorizaiton
Part of FDA’s evaluation of an EUA request for a COVID-19 vaccine includes evaluation of the chemistry, manufacturing, and controls information for the vaccine

TRACKERS & TOOLS

WHO Draft landscape and tracker of COVID-19 candidate vaccines
The COVID-19 candidate vaccine landscape and tracker database compiles detailed information on COVID-19 vaccine candidates in development.
VaccineFinder
Search vaccine providers near you
CDC Data Tracker
Represents all vaccine partners including jurisdictional partner clinics, retail pharmacies, long-term care facilities, dialysis centers, Federal Emergency Management Agency and Health Resources and Services Administration partner sites, and federal entity facilities.
Johns Hopkins University Vaccine Tracker
racking data about the administration of COVID-19 vaccines, based on data reported by federal and state governments.
New York Times: Vaccine Doses by State
The New York Times has also begun tracking allocation of vaccine doses and numbers of vaccinations, based on data from federal and state sources.
State Plans for Vaccinating their Populations against COVID-19
The National Academy for State Health Policy has summarized states' vaccination plans and priority populations, based on documents submitted to the CDC.

NEWS & UPDATES

FDA COVID-19 Vaccine News and Updates
The FDA has regulatory processes in place to facilitate the development of COVID-19 vaccines that meet the FDA's rigorous scientific standards.

PROFESSIONAL LITERATURE

New England Journal of Medicine Covid-19 Vaccine Resource Center
A collection of resources on Covid-19 vaccines, including frequently asked questions, continuing medical education, published research, and commentary.
JAMA Insights - SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines
JAMA Insights - February 26, 2021

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HOW VACCINES WORK

How do vaccines work?

Simply put, a vaccine trains the immune system to recognize viruses, bacteria, and other germs, or pathogens, so the body can react. The human body produces special proteins called antibodies to fight germs like the virus that causes COVID-19. Vaccines introduce weakened or killed parts of pathogens, or elements that mimic their structure, into the body.

COVID-19 vaccines cause your body to safely develop antibodies that recognize and fight the coronavirus that causes the disease, greatly reducing the risk of a full-scale infection.

SOURCE: HHS Combat Covid https://combatcovid.hhs.gov/#

HHS - How do Vaccines Work?

CDC - Understanding mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines
What you need to know

How do mRNA Covid-19 vaccines (such as the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines) work?

Two messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines are currently available in the United States, one developed by Pfizer/BioNTech (BNT162b2) and the other by Moderna (mRNA-1273). In these vaccines, the mRNA carries instructions to make the SARS-CoV-2 “spike” protein — the prickly projections on the surface of the virus, which is structured like those rubber balls that dogs love to chase or like the quills of a porcupine.

Once the vaccine is injected, the mRNA is taken up by the macrophages near the injection site and instructs those cells to make the spike protein. The spike protein then appears on the surface of the macrophages, inducing an immune response that mimics the way we fight off infections and protects us from natural infection with SARS-CoV-2. Enzymes in the body then degrade and dispose the mRNA. No live virus is involved, and no genetic material enters the nucleus of the cells.

Although these are the first mRNA vaccines to be broadly tested and used in clinical practice, scientists have been working on mRNA vaccines for years. And despite this wonderful parody piece. opens in new tab saying that the technology is “obvious,” in fact the breakthrough insight that put the mRNA inside a lipid coating to prevent it from degrading is quite brilliant — and yes, this may be the first time the New England Journal of Medicine has referenced a piece in The Onion. (Last reviewed/updated 23 Mar 2021)

SOURCE: NEJM Covid-19 Vaccine - FAQs https://www.nejm.org/covid-vaccine/faq

How do adenovirus Covid-19 vaccines (such as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) work?

The J&J vaccine is a recombinant replication-incompetent human adenovirus serotype 26 vector encoding a full-length, stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antigen. That’s quite a lot to digest, so let’s unpack it in words that are more easily understandable by us mere mortals:

“recombinant” — genetically engineered in a lab. Yes, I know it can mean more than this, but that’s the gist.
“replication-incompetent” — can’t reproduce in humans. No risk of viral dissemination.
“adenovirus serotype 26” — there are many adenovirus serotypes in the community. This one is uncommon, which is important because preexisting immunity to an adenovirus might diminish our response to the vaccine. The name of the J&J vaccine refers to this serotype (Ad26) and the antigen it carries — Ad26.COV2.S.
“vector encoding” — the virus acts as a transporter (vector) of the gene — the DNA — that makes (encodes) the antigen, which is a …
“full-length, stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antigen” — the researchers have taken the genetic machinery, or DNA, from SARS-CoV-2 that makes the whole spike antigen, and made it stable enough to be carried within the adenovirus.

When the vaccine is injected, the adenovirus cannot replicate, but its genetic material can enter the host cell’s nucleus and be converted to messenger RNA. The mRNA then creates spike protein antigens from SARS-CoV-2, which elicit a host response similar to natural infection with the virus that causes Covid-19. Both antibody and cellular immunity is stimulated.

Note that there are other adenovirus vector vaccines in use globally that carry the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein DNA. Neither is yet available here in the United States, and both use two doses as their vaccine strategy. The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine uses a chimpanzee adenovirus modified so it does not replicate in humans. The Sputnik V vaccine starts with the same Ad26 adenovirus as the J&J vaccine, but then switches to adenovirus serotype 5 for the second dose. This switch theoretically improves the boosting effect of this vaccine, as it reduces the chance that acquired immunity to Ad26 will diminish the immune response. (Last reviewed/updated 29 Mar 2021)

SOURCE: NEJM Covid-19 Vaccine - FAQs https://www.nejm.org/covid-vaccine/faq

FACTS & MYTHS

Addressing 9 COVID-19 Myths and Facts

CDC - Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines
Now that there are authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines in the United States, accurate vaccine information is critical.
How to talk about COVID-19 vaccines with friends and family
COVID-19 vaccines are new, and it’s normal to for people to have questions about them. The sheer amount of information—and misinformation—about COVID-19 vaccines can be overwhelming to anyone. You can help by listening without judgement and identifying the root of their concerns.

It can be difficult to know which sources of information you can trust. Learn more about finding credible vaccine information.

Beware of Fraudulent Coronovirus Tests, Vaccines, and Treatments

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

New England Journal of Medicine - Covid-19 Vaccine - FAQs
Geared to questions clinicians might have
WHO COVID-19 Vaccines Q & A
Information about COVID-19 vaccines is quickly evolving and WHO will aim to update this Q&A on an ongoing basis, as we learn more.
CDC - Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination
Answers to commonly asked questions about COVID-19 vaccination. CDC also has information for busting common vaccine myths available in facts about COVID-19 vaccines.
What to Do if You Have an Allergic Reaction After Getting A COVID-19 Vaccine
If you get a COVID-19 vaccine and you think you might be having a severe allergic reaction after leaving the vaccination provider site, seek immediate medical care by calling 911.

VACCINE INFORMATION NOT IN ENGLISH

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