Dr. Stephanie Silvera Remarks on COVID-19 Vaccination Protection
Posted in: College News and Events, Public Health
Dr. Stephanie Silvera, Professor in the Public Health Department, was interviewed by Michael Hill of NJSpotlight regarding COVID-19 vaccination protection. She noted: “There are several reasons why people need to continue the public health measures that we’ve been recommending for several months now. One is that no vaccine is 100% effective. Even the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, which showed 95% efficacy, means that 1 out of 20 people who are vaccinated will still develop severe disease. The other, I think, important thing…for people who have been vaccinated is that vaccines do not provide immediate protection. So, most of these vaccines are not effective right away. It takes about two weeks for your immune system to make the right antibodies that block viral infections. Because both the Moderna and Pfizer and vaccines require two does, that would mean that someone is vaccinated today would not be fully immunized, or protected, until March 1st.”