COVID-19 vaccine: Answers to frequently asked questions
Penicillin bottles of COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by SinoVac Biotech are seen in a packing workshop, Jan 6, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]
3.
Q: What types of COVID-19 vaccines are currently available? Which one is the best?
A: There are hundreds of institutions developing COVID-19 vaccines. There are many different types according to the technology being used, such as inactivated vaccines, recombinant vaccines, vector vaccines and nucleic acid vaccines.
At present there is no evidence to conclude which vaccine is better. All COVID-19 vaccines approved for use are effective at preventing the disease. The vaccines given to priority groups in China are inactivated vaccines.
4.
Q: How do you get vaccinated and how many doses are needed?
A: Two doses of the vaccine are recommended for immunization, within an interval of at least 14 days. The vaccine is injected into the deltoid muscle in the upper arm.
5.
Q: If I miss or have to delay the second vaccine dose, what should I do?
A: No clinical research data is available regarding different immunization procedures, so the maximum interval between the two shots is currently not known. You should complete the vaccine doses as soon as possible if you have deviated from the recommended schedule.
6.
Q: Can I use different COVID-19 vaccines interchangeably for the two shots?
A: It is recommended that you use vaccines produced by the same manufacturer to complete the series.
7.
Q: How long does it take to produce antibodies after vaccination?
A: Clinical studies have shown that antibody production generally begins seven days after the first dose of the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine, and the antibody positivity rate is about 60-90 percent in 14-28 days. The antibody positivity rate reaches more than 90 percent 28 days after the second dose of vaccine and provides continuous protection.
8.
Q: Do I need to check if I have generated antibodies? If test results are negative, do I have to restart the vaccination procedure from the first shot?
A: There's no need to check if you have generated antibodies unless there is a special requirement for it. For those who voluntarily take an antibody test and receive negative results, it's also not recommended to restart the vaccination procedure.
9.
Q: Can I take the COVID-19 vaccine with other vaccines, such as the HPV vaccine, flu vaccine or rabies vaccine?
A: The COVID-19 vaccine is a new vaccine, so it is not recommended that you get a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as any other vaccine.
