Do we know yet if the Covid vaccine is a one-and-done vaccine? Or...

[NurseJackie]

... as the virus continues to mutate, will we need an annual Covid vaccine that helps to protect against the latest strain of the virus?

[hlthe2b]

1. Duration of immunity is a total unknown, but all signs from natural infection suggest annual booster

[Mike 03]

2. I only know that the Pfizer vaccine is two doses.

One of the issues with rushing the vaccines is that it's not clear if immunity wanes as it does with the virus itself.

I've heard it said that COVID is more like the common cold.

[PoliticAverse]

3. Article from Sept on that topic...

https://www.salon.com/2020/09/23/a-coronavirus-vaccine-may-only-work-for-one-year-heres-what-that-means-for-society/

[soothsayer]

4. One version is two doses; one is one

Unknown is whether there’s a lasting effect even for a non-mutated strain. Or how they affect the old and young. Or if they for real for real work.

[LisaL]

8. Both Moderna and Pfizer are two dose vaccine.

However, OP seems to be asking how long the immunity from the vaccine is going to last.

[soothsayer]

9. Right, no one knows. Oh they're both double doses? Ugh

[LisaL]

11. Yes, both double doses.

Johnson and Johnson is working on traditional one dose vaccine, but it's not known if they are successful yet.

[soothsayer]

12. Right. So the difference is... storage temp, with moderna not needing extreme cold

[LisaL]

13. Yes.

My guess is, both will be used at least initially, since each company can produce a limited number of doses.

[NRaleighLiberal]

5. think of flu vaccine - it is a different version every year - not sure if this is what COVID

will end up like.

My view is that understanding the COVID virus is still in its infancy - good science takes time.

Unless one is a republican - for them, there is no science. just what their cult leader tells them.

[njhoneybadger]

6. Both Vacines need a second shot.

https://qz.com/1933865/how-the-moderna-covid-19-vaccine-stacks-up-against-pfizers/

Both vaccines, which require two injections, appear to elicit few severe side effects. Moderna’s can result in fatigue, headache, and joint pain; for Pfizer’s, side effects are more flu-like and can include muscle pain and fever. Both vaccines caused patients to have injection-site pain.

[LisaL]

7. Nobody knows.

My guess it's not one and done. We will probably get one every year, like for flu. But that's just a guess.

[NurseJackie]

10. The anti-VAX folks will die-off the fastest, I expect.

Along with the "it's a hoax" cult who won't want to receive the vaccine. I'll have a hard time mustering a tear of sympathy for them.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

19. Along with their children, who have no choice in the matter. nt

[NurseJackie]

20. That will be tragic... and sad that innocent children must suffer.

[Jirel]

14. Likely will need boosters, but frequency unknown.

The Moderna and Pfeizer vaccines are not truly "vaccines" like older tech such as polio, etc., where a person is innoculated with a weakened or deactivated form of the illness that triggers an immune response. It's a mRNA (messenger RNA) scheme that describes the shape of the spiky proteins on the outside of the COVID-19 virus. OUR OWN BODIES then produce copies of that spike protein, which doesn't belong there, and our immune system goes after it and learns to recognize it. That means that if the virus mutates but keeps the same spike profile, the vaccine would work anyway. But, since it's brand new, we have no good idea how long the vaccine will last at this point. I suspect that we'll be finding that out months or years after the vaccine is common in the general population, based on actual results.

[genxlib]

15. I have always assumed

Although without any specific knowledge or expertise.

I assumed the yearly booster for Corona (if needed) would simply be put into the mix of the typical flu shot.

Of course a double dose would prevent that but who knows at this point whether that would need to be the case.

[beachbumbob]

16. what we know? Next to nothing and why its laughable.

Does ANY vaccine provide provide immunity for a year? Don;t know
Do individuals who recover from Covid have immunity for a year? Don;t know.
Will COVID mutate? 100% likely

[usajumpedtheshark]

17. Hard to know since we are still missing basic knowledge about the virus.

[Hortensis]

18. Well, there are a lot more than 2 vaccines coming. We have no real idea

which of them will become widely administered not just in the beginning but over time, and in various geographic regions. Last week Pfizer's was talked about, this week Moderna's also. Our government alone is officially sponsoring six. (Pfizer refused Warp Speed financing and interference during initial development but now has an advance-purchase agreement with the government.)

Plus, a certain vaccine may be better for an individual than others and prescribed by a personal physician.

My usual long-winded way of saying I'm waiting on the details. Since my husband and I don't have to work, a guess is we won't be offered the first rounds, but that notion could already be completely wrong. Maybe entire cities and counties will be targeted.