COVID-19 vaccine differences and immunizing pregnant patients: SMH answers the most asked questions regarding the vaccine

Sheridan Memorial Hospital has sent a press release containing answers to a few of the most frequently asked questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.  

Have you received your COVID vaccine? There are many reasons some may not be vaccinated yet. The main reason is the time it takes to produce the vaccine and get it distributed to the local vaccine clinics. This caused a phased rollout of the vaccine to most vulnerable populations first. With the recent opening of Phase 2 of the COVID Vaccination Priority list, anyone age 16 and over is now eligible to receive the vaccine. 

As time goes on and more people opt to receive the vaccine, there are some basic questions that seem to come up.

“’What are the differences between the various vaccines?’ and, ‘Should women who are, or want to become pregnant, or currently breastfeeding receive the vaccine?’ These are the questions we hear often,” Director of Lean Transformation for Sheridan Memorial Hospital Dr. Lekan Ajayi said. Ajayi is currently overseeing the COVID vaccination clinic at SMH and is a pharmacist as well.

The difference in the vaccines can be difficult to describe. There is a lot of medical jargon that comes with the explanation. To break it down to its simplest terms, each vaccine is built to instruct human cells to make the SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19) spike protein, which causes the body to build antibodies that will help fight off the COVID-19 virus.  A little more detail follows:

    • Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Vaccines – these are both messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. Unlike vaccines that put a weakened or inactive disease germ into the body, they deliver a tiny piece of genetic code to host cells in the body, essentially giving those cells instructions for making copies of spike proteins. These proteins stimulate an immune response, producing antibodies and developing memory cells that will recognize and respond if the body is infected with the actual virus.

    • Johnson & Johnson – This is a carrier vaccine whereby scientists engineer a harmless adenovirus (a common virus that, when activated, can cause colds, bronchitis and other illnesses) as a shell to carry genetic code on the spike proteins to the cells (similar to a Trojan Horse). The shell and code can’t make you sick, but once the code is inside the cells, the cells produce the spike protein to train the body’s immune system to create antibodies to protect against COVID-19. 

Currently, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are a two-shot vaccine, while Johnson & Johnson is delivered with one-shot. 

So far, over 8,300 people have been immunized with the COVID-19 vaccine in Sheridan County (as of March 30). This includes people immunized at SMH, the VA hospital and Sheridan County Public Health.  

Regarding the question about pregnancy and the vaccine, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) website, “ACOG recommends that COVID-19 vaccines should not be withheld from pregnant individuals… the vaccine should be offered to lactating individuals similar to non-lactating individuals.”  (ACOG – Vaccinating Pregnant and Lactating Patients)  

There is also no current evidence that any of the COVID-19 vaccines cause subsequent problems with fertility or harm a developing placenta or fetus. Per the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website, “if you are trying to become pregnant, you do not need to avoid pregnancy after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.” (CDC – People Who Would Like to Have a Baby)

“Our recommendations are in alignment with ACOG and the CDC.  Pregnancy, concerns about infertility or lactation shouldn’t change whether or not someone receives the vaccine.  If anyone is hesitant or has questions, we certainly encourage them to consult their physician,” Dr. Gregg McAdoo with the SMH Women’s Clinic said.