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A volunteer gets a shot on Oct. 27 in the
Phase 3 study of Pfizer’s vaccine candidateviral genes that can produce
viral proteins to activate the
immune system, while both
Novavax and the Sanofi/
GlaxoSmithKline partnership
are producing and then
introducing proteins from
the virus itself to trigger an
immune response. All are
close to completing testing
of their shots.WHERE
CAN I GET
VACCINATED?
In the first few months after
the initial doses are shipped,
there will likely be a limited
number of providers— mostly
in public-health clinics and
major hospitals. But the fed-
eral government has autho-
rized pharmacists to admin-
ister COVID-19 vaccines, so
eventually retail pharmacies,
community health centers
and other locations will be
offering COVID-19 shots.CAN I CHOOSE
WHICH VACCINE
I GET?
Probably not. State health
departments will likely be
coordinating the ordering
and distribution of doses,
and they won’t know which
vaccines they will receive.
Some health departments
may request certain
vaccines depending, for
example, on factors such
as whether some of their
vaccine facilities have the
proper storage equipment
like the ultra-cold freezers
needed for Pfizer’s vaccine,
or perhaps whether the shots
show any differences in
effectiveness among people
of different ages, ethnicities
or health conditions. So
far, the Moderna and Pfizervaccines don’t show such
distinctions, so they will likely
be shipped out based on
proposals that state health
departments have submitted
for how many doses they
will need. Although Pfizer’s
vaccine needs to be stored
at –70°C, the company plans
to ship its doses in thermal
packaging that can maintain
that temperature for up to
15 days, as long as users
replenish the dry ice included
in the packaging.WHY DO I NEED
TWO DOSES
OF VACCINE?
All of the COVID-19 vaccines
being tested, with the
exception of Johnson &
Johnson/Janssen’s, require
two doses. That’s becauseresearchers found that
while the body launches
an immune response after
the first dose, boosting that
initial exposure to the virus
magnifies that defense
significantly. If a person
hasn’t been infected by
the COVID-19 virus, it takes
a little longer to prime
the pump of their immune
system against it.WILL I HAVE TO
PAY FOR A COVID-19
VACCINE?
Vaccines supported by
U.S. taxpayer dollars under
the Operation Warp Speed
program—which includes
those from AstraZeneca,
Johnson & Johnson/Janssen,
Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech,
Sanofi/GlaxoSmithKline and
others—should be free for
all Americans, although the
details of the purchasing
contracts are still unclear.
Some health facilities may
also charge an administration
fee for giving the vaccine,
which people will have to pay
out of pocket.WILL I STILL HAVE TO
WEAR A MASK AFTER
I GET VACCINATED?
Yes. Studies so far show
only that the vaccines can
protect against getting sick
with the disease, and may not
prevent being infected with
the virus. So it’s important
to still follow all the public-
health measures that throw
up an invisible wall against
the coronavirus. Even if you’re
immunized, you can still get
infected with the virus and
therefore pass it on to others.
That’s why even as more and
more people get vaccinated,
health officials will continue
to ask you to wear a mask
in public, practice social
distancing and avoid large
indoor gatherings. Those
basic behaviors will remain
critical in keeping the virusDOGUKAN KESKINKILIC—ANADOLU AGENCY/GETTY IMAGES from finding new hosts.