Okay, all right, you're live. Hi, good afternoon, everyone. My name is Paul Casey, and I'm the Chief Medical Officer at Rush. We want to take a few minutes of your time today to talk through some common questions that have come up about the COVID vaccine. I know a lot has been changing, and it's been changing quickly—not just in terms of vaccine distribution, but also with the change in administration. I think we can expect more changes ahead in terms of vaccine strategies and when we may see additional doses as well. I'll start with some of the common questions we've been getting here at Rush, and then we'll address any additional questions you may have.
The most common question is, "When will I be able to get the COVID vaccine?" It's a complicated question. Here at Rush, we are aligning with the Chicago Department of Public Health’s guidance, and the Illinois Department of Public Health has similar recommendations, which most health departments statewide are following. As of next Monday, we will be entering Phase 1B. To give some context, Phase 1A began in mid-December, when the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were approved. These vaccines are very similar in terms of how effective they are, how they work, and how they create an immune response in your body. Soon after approval, we began vaccinating healthcare providers in Phase 1A, and we were able to vaccinate about 80% of our healthcare workers. We are now moving into Phase 1B, which includes individuals over 65 and frontline essential workers. These groups will be vaccinated starting Monday, and the process will likely take a couple of months. We’ll also be vaccinating other community members who fall into these categories, and we expect to continue through the end of March, though it may extend into April depending on the vaccine supply.
Moving forward, Phase 1C will include individuals aged 16 to 65 with medical conditions, which is expected to be a larger group. We anticipate vaccinating those individuals in April through June, depending on the availability of the vaccine. Beyond that, the timeline for moving into Phase 2, which covers the general population (not including pediatric patients), is still unclear. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are approved for people aged 16 and older, and we are awaiting more data on vaccine safety for children. We hope to begin vaccinating pediatric populations later this year once more data is available.
Next, people are asking about Rush’s vaccine distribution plan. Our focus is on delivering the vaccine as effectively and quickly as possible, with an emphasis on equity. We are targeting communities that have been most disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, as this is where additional lives can be saved. Our vaccination strategy is multi-pronged, with both direct vaccinations at Rush and outreach to local communities in collaboration with the city. So far, we have vaccinated over 17,000 individuals at Rush University Medical Center, as well as at Rush Oak Park Hospital and Rush Copley Hospital. We will continue to vaccinate patients and community members, ensuring that equity is a driving principle in how the vaccine is distributed.
Another common question is about pre-existing conditions, immune suppressants, chemotherapy, or dialysis. These individuals will be vaccinated in Phase 1C, which includes those between the ages of 16 and 65 with medical conditions. This will happen after Phase 1B is completed, likely in the April through June timeframe.
People also ask, "What side effects should I expect from the vaccine?" From our experience vaccinating over 17,000 individuals, we’ve seen very few serious side effects. Severe allergic reactions, like anaphylaxis, are extremely rare. Common side effects include fatigue, chills, muscle aches, and soreness around the injection site—similar to what you might experience with the flu vaccine. These side effects are signs that your immune system is responding to the vaccine and creating the necessary antibodies. The second dose of the vaccine may cause more pronounced side effects, such as fatigue and muscle aches, especially in younger individuals, while older individuals generally tolerate it better. Importantly, both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are incredibly safe and effective.
Another question we’ve received frequently is whether pregnant or nursing individuals should get the vaccine. While pregnant and nursing women were not included in the clinical trials, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has stated that the vaccine is likely safe and effective for these groups. They recommend that pregnant and nursing individuals consult their OB-GYNs, but the overall guidance is that the benefits of vaccination—protecting both mother and fetus from COVID-19—far outweigh the risks of getting the virus, which can have serious complications.
People also ask whether they should get the vaccine if they've already had COVID-19. The answer is yes. We don’t know how long immunity lasts after natural infection, but the vaccine provides strong protection—about 95% effective—against reinfection or severe complications from COVID-19. Even if you’ve had COVID before, it’s recommended to get vaccinated.
Another question is, "How soon does the vaccine start working?" Based on the studies, the protection from the Pfizer vaccine starts around 7 days after the second dose, with about 95% efficacy. For Moderna, protection begins around 14 days after the second dose, with 94.1% efficacy. In short, protection starts within one to two weeks after your second dose.
Some have also asked if they can change their behavior after being vaccinated, like traveling or going to the gym. While the vaccine is highly effective at preventing infection and severe illness, it’s still unclear if vaccinated individuals can carry and transmit the virus. Therefore, we need to continue wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and following other safety measures even after vaccination. However, as we reach herd immunity—when about 80% of the community is vaccinated—we hope to relax some of these restrictions and return to more normal activities.
Lastly, if you don't have a doctor at Rush, you can still get vaccinated here. We’re working with the Chicago Department of Public Health to allow individuals to schedule vaccinations through a platform they are developing. We’ll also have more information available on our website, rush.edu/vaccine, where you can find details on how to schedule your vaccination, based on the current phase of the vaccine rollout.
We’ve also had questions about whether essential workers need letters from their employers to get vaccinated. We are awaiting further guidance from the Chicago Department of Public Health on this, but our approach is to vaccinate as many people as quickly as possible to help end the pandemic.
Thank you for tuning in today. For more information, visit rush.edu/vaccine. We appreciate your time and hope to see you soon.
The most common question is, "When will I be able to get the COVID vaccine?" It's a complicated question. Here at Rush, we are aligning with the Chicago Department of Public Health’s guidance, and the Illinois Department of Public Health has similar recommendations, which most health departments statewide are following. As of next Monday, we will be entering Phase 1B. To give some context, Phase 1A began in mid-December, when the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were approved. These vaccines are very similar in terms of how effective they are, how they work, and how they create an immune response in your body. Soon after approval, we began vaccinating healthcare providers in Phase 1A, and we were able to vaccinate about 80% of our healthcare workers. We are now moving into Phase 1B, which includes individuals over 65 and frontline essential workers. These groups will be vaccinated starting Monday, and the process will likely take a couple of months. We’ll also be vaccinating other community members who fall into these categories, and we expect to continue through the end of March, though it may extend into April depending on the vaccine supply.
Moving forward, Phase 1C will include individuals aged 16 to 65 with medical conditions, which is expected to be a larger group. We anticipate vaccinating those individuals in April through June, depending on the availability of the vaccine. Beyond that, the timeline for moving into Phase 2, which covers the general population (not including pediatric patients), is still unclear. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are approved for people aged 16 and older, and we are awaiting more data on vaccine safety for children. We hope to begin vaccinating pediatric populations later this year once more data is available.
Next, people are asking about Rush’s vaccine distribution plan. Our focus is on delivering the vaccine as effectively and quickly as possible, with an emphasis on equity. We are targeting communities that have been most disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, as this is where additional lives can be saved. Our vaccination strategy is multi-pronged, with both direct vaccinations at Rush and outreach to local communities in collaboration with the city. So far, we have vaccinated over 17,000 individuals at Rush University Medical Center, as well as at Rush Oak Park Hospital and Rush Copley Hospital. We will continue to vaccinate patients and community members, ensuring that equity is a driving principle in how the vaccine is distributed.
Another common question is about pre-existing conditions, immune suppressants, chemotherapy, or dialysis. These individuals will be vaccinated in Phase 1C, which includes those between the ages of 16 and 65 with medical conditions. This will happen after Phase 1B is completed, likely in the April through June timeframe.
People also ask, "What side effects should I expect from the vaccine?" From our experience vaccinating over 17,000 individuals, we’ve seen very few serious side effects. Severe allergic reactions, like anaphylaxis, are extremely rare. Common side effects include fatigue, chills, muscle aches, and soreness around the injection site—similar to what you might experience with the flu vaccine. These side effects are signs that your immune system is responding to the vaccine and creating the necessary antibodies. The second dose of the vaccine may cause more pronounced side effects, such as fatigue and muscle aches, especially in younger individuals, while older individuals generally tolerate it better. Importantly, both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are incredibly safe and effective.
Another question we’ve received frequently is whether pregnant or nursing individuals should get the vaccine. While pregnant and nursing women were not included in the clinical trials, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has stated that the vaccine is likely safe and effective for these groups. They recommend that pregnant and nursing individuals consult their OB-GYNs, but the overall guidance is that the benefits of vaccination—protecting both mother and fetus from COVID-19—far outweigh the risks of getting the virus, which can have serious complications.
People also ask whether they should get the vaccine if they've already had COVID-19. The answer is yes. We don’t know how long immunity lasts after natural infection, but the vaccine provides strong protection—about 95% effective—against reinfection or severe complications from COVID-19. Even if you’ve had COVID before, it’s recommended to get vaccinated.
Another question is, "How soon does the vaccine start working?" Based on the studies, the protection from the Pfizer vaccine starts around 7 days after the second dose, with about 95% efficacy. For Moderna, protection begins around 14 days after the second dose, with 94.1% efficacy. In short, protection starts within one to two weeks after your second dose.
Some have also asked if they can change their behavior after being vaccinated, like traveling or going to the gym. While the vaccine is highly effective at preventing infection and severe illness, it’s still unclear if vaccinated individuals can carry and transmit the virus. Therefore, we need to continue wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and following other safety measures even after vaccination. However, as we reach herd immunity—when about 80% of the community is vaccinated—we hope to relax some of these restrictions and return to more normal activities.
Lastly, if you don't have a doctor at Rush, you can still get vaccinated here. We’re working with the Chicago Department of Public Health to allow individuals to schedule vaccinations through a platform they are developing. We’ll also have more information available on our website, rush.edu/vaccine, where you can find details on how to schedule your vaccination, based on the current phase of the vaccine rollout.
We’ve also had questions about whether essential workers need letters from their employers to get vaccinated. We are awaiting further guidance from the Chicago Department of Public Health on this, but our approach is to vaccinate as many people as quickly as possible to help end the pandemic.
Thank you for tuning in today. For more information, visit rush.edu/vaccine. We appreciate your time and hope to see you soon.
