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UFCW knows how hard our members and other essential workers are working at this time to provide for their communities. To help you stay on top of the latest news on what we are doing related to the pandemic, be sure to sign up for updates below.
Check out what Local 99 members have to say about receiving the Covid-19 vaccine
Register for the COVID-19 vaccine at a location near you!
For questions about vaccine registration or to find an appointment near you, please visit the Vaccine Registration page or call 1-844-542-8201.
Get the Facts about the COVID-19 Vaccine
UFCW essential workers are among the first to be eligible to take the new COVID-19 vaccine, which evidence shows will provide significant protection against the deadly disease.
Currently, there are three vaccines authorized and recommended to prevent COVID-19: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen.
All COVID-19 vaccines have been proven to be highly effective at preventing serious illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. The best vaccine is the one you can get soonest and is available to you. However, if you have previously had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredients in a vaccine or have any concerns about possible contraindications, be sure to check with your doctor for more information about your options.
Safety and Effectiveness
Like all vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines must go through a rigorous and multi-step testing and approval process before they can be used. Throughout vaccine development and distribution, there are numerous safety measures. These include:
- The Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorizes and monitors all clinical trials.
- To get an Emergency Use Authorization, developers of a vaccine must provide a large amount of data on its safety and effectiveness to meet the rigorous standards set by the FDA
- Independent advisory committees provide oversight and monitor for safety during vaccine development and testing.
- Clinical trials for a vaccine continue after EUA is granted until enough data is available to grant full approvalAfter a vaccine is authorized for use, multiple safety monitoring systems are in place to watch for possible adverse events. If an unexpected serious adverse event is detected, experts work as quickly as possible to determine whether it is a true safety concern.
Some people who get a COVID-19 vaccine will experience side effects, particularly after a second dose. The side effects of the vaccine appear to be minor and temporary, including injection site pain, fatigue, and occasional fever, headache, or aching muscles and joints. These side effects fade within 1-2 days; no long-term effects have been detected thus far.
While the vaccine provides significant protection, it is not 100% effective. There is a slight chance that vaccinated individuals can still get infected with a mild case of the virus. Those who have taken the vaccine can also still spread the virus to others at home and at work. Thus, it is critical that everyone continue to wear PPE and follow public health protocols for the foreseeable future.
What Is In The Vaccine
The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines use mRNA technology, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine uses the more traditional virus-based technology. mRNA is essentially a little piece of code that the vaccine delivers to your cells. The code serves as an instruction manual for your immune system, teaching it to recognize the virus that causes COVID-19 and attack it, should it encounter the real thing.
Instead of using mRNA, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine uses a disabled adenovirus to deliver the instructions. This adenovirus is in no way related to the coronavirus. It is a completely different virus. Although it can deliver the instructions on how to defeat the coronavirus, it can’t replicate in your body and will not give you a viral infection.
How The Vaccine Was Developed
Because mRNA is easy to make in the laboratory, manufacturers saved years in development, accelerating the creation of the vaccine.
In clinical trials for both vaccines, over 73,000 people from the U.S. and around the world received injections, including over 25,000 people from the communities most impacted by COVID-19, including Black, Latinx, and older people.
For Additional Information
- COVID-19 Vaccine Myths vs Facts
- CDC’s V-Safe After Vaccination Health Checker (Español)
- What is Emergency Use Authorization? (FDA)
Sources: Maricopa County Public Health, VCU Health, CDC.
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Are you a UFCW Local 99 member and experiencing a problem at work because of COVID-19?
If you are a member with a COVID-19 concern in your workplace, please report it to us. Many Local 99 workers are experiencing similar challenges in their workplaces. Help us keep track of the problems you are facing so we can better work with employers to address them.