Side effects for both flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines are relatively minor, and are outweighed by the benefits of the protection they provide. COVID-19 vaccines and flu vaccines are different vaccines for different vaccines, and therefore their side effects should not be directly compared, especially from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) which is unverified, may be incomplete, and is not well-suited to comparing vaccines.

Evidence suggests berberine can support some conditions like diabetes and high cholesterol, and may be helpful in killing some harmful organisms like bacteria and viruses. However, there is not enough evidence to suggest using it in routine care for COVID-19 patients. Recommendations are based on its suggested general support to the immune system. 

To-date, there is no data that the COVID-19 vaccines affect fertility. Research is ongoing to continue studying the relationship between COVID-19 vaccines and fertility long-term, and to make sure there are no risks. Many experts say that COVID-19 is more harmful for pregnant individuals and potentially for those who are hoping to become pregnant than the vaccines that protect against it. 

Hydrogen peroxide is not a cure for any infectious disease, including COVID-19. There is no evidence that hydrogen peroxide is a cure for the common cold, COVID-19, HIV, cancer, or any other disease.

Currently available data suggest that the side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine booster doses are similar to side effects from the initial set of vaccine doses. Approved booster shots are considered safe and are currently recommended in some countries for people who are immunocompromised, people who are older than age 65, and people who are at higher risk of exposure due to their work (e.g. medical and other frontline jobs). 

The COVID-19 antibodies that your body develops from getting vaccinated are mostly the same kind of antibodies you develop from an infection.

People who are infected with COVID-19 but are asymptomatic (or symptom free) can spread the virus to others. Researchers estimate that 59% of COVID-19 spread is from people who do not have symptoms. 35% of the spread happens before someone develops symptoms (when they are pre-symptomatic). 24% of COVID-19 spread happens via people who never develop symptoms.

COVID-19 vaccines should be prioritized for older and medically vulnerable populations. In countries where vaccines are available and approved for children 12 and older, kids should be vaccinated if possible. More research is needed on vaccinating children under 12 but early research showing their safety and strengthening of immune system responses is promising.

While there can be some health benefits to using a nasal rinses (also called nasal irrigation) or mouthwash, there is no scientific evidence that rinsing with vinegar can prevent or treat COVID-19. COVID-19 is caused by coronaviruses with an outer lipid (fat) membrane, so washing hands with soap and using a hand sanitizer with at least 60-70% alcohol can be effective against this type of virus. Wearing a mask or face covering can help prevent viral particles from entering or exiting through the mouth and nose.

Breakthrough infections of COVID-19 are possible, but relatively rare, in people who have been fully vaccinated against the disease. Some scientists estimate that breakthrough infections of COVID-19 may be as uncommon as 1 out of 5,000-10,000 vaccinated people, based on numbers in the United States. More research is being done, as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) focused limited resources on tracking symptomatic breakthrough cases rather than all incidences of breakthrough infections.

There is no link between any of the COVID-19 vaccines and impotence or swollen testicles. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective in preventing serious illness or death, and the symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection are far more serious and life threatening than any symptoms associated with the vaccines, which have been rigorously tested and studied by health experts.

Current research does not suggest a high risk of transmission for COVID-19 through household surfaces, food, or food packaging. However, more intimate items such as utensils and toothbrushes may still cause a risk. In settings where groups of people are expected to share utensils, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using disposable utensils and tools is the safest practice. 

New confirmed cases are trending upward, from 20,607 confirmed cases on July 1, 2021 (just before most COVID-19 restrictions were lifted) to 36,731 confirmed cases on the day of September 11, 2021 (about two months after most COVID-19 restrictions were lifted), according to Johns Hopkins University database. To be sure, cases were on the rise before restrictions were lifted and have continued to persist.

Individuals living with HIV can safely be vaccinated against COVID-19. As part of the authorization process that the available vaccines go through before being available for mass vaccination, clinical trials allow researchers to establish the safety of a vaccine. The clinical trials used to test the safety of the authorized Covid-19 vaccines included people with HIV infection, and were deemed safe. 

Blood transfusions are not currently recommended as a treatment option for COVID-19 patients. Currently, the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s COVID-19 treatment guidelines recommend against the use of convalescent plasma therapy in hospitalized patients who are not immunocompromised, unless enrolled in a clinical trial. 

D-dimer tests are used to rule out the possibility of blood clots among patients who typically have a low likelihood of blood clots. The test is used for screening purposes only, and additional tests would be required to confirm a diagnosis.

Obesity is a known risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes. Data on hospitalized patients in the U.S. showed that individuals with an obese BMI had an increased risk for death from COVID-19. The association for death was even more pronounced among adults less than 65 years old.

Asymptomatic COVID-19 cases (cases with no symptoms) are common, making up at least 1 out of 3 of all cases and sometimes more in some areas. The healthier and younger you are, the more likely you are to have an asymptomatic case. Other pathways are unknown but are being explored. These pathways include genetics, cross-immunity (​​past exposure to one virus providing partial protection to another virus), environment, and COVID-19 vaccination.

It is unclear how factors like vaccine hesitancy and news about vaccine side effects contributed to a decline in daily vaccination rates. We can most likely attribute the drop in number of people getting shots to a combination of things. 

There are two main types of COVID-19 tests: diagnostic tests and antibody tests. Diagnostic tests can tell you if you have an active COVID-19 infection, while antibody tests can tell you if you’ve been infected by the virus that causes COVID-19 in the past. Types of diagnostic tests include antigen tests and molecular tests. Molecular tests are typically the most accurate at diagnosing an active COVID-19 infection.

Smoking may be associated with more severe disease and a higher risk of death in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. However, this association is not confirmed and more research is needed to understand the risk of developing COVID-19 and being hospitalized for COVID-19 among smokers.

The R-naught for the COVID-19 Delta variant likely falls between 5 and 9 with some estimates putting it between 6 and 7. The R-naught for chickenpox is estimated to fall between 9 and 10.

Drugs and vaccines are recalled for a number of reasons including manufacturing defects, particulate contamination, and packaging and labeling defects. However, no World Health Organization approved vaccines have been recalled en masse.

In the Philippines, available COVID-19 vaccines are from Sinovac Biotech, AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and Sputnik V.

Current research has not shown a link between the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and blood clots. Health leaders around the world continue to encourage everyone to get a COVID-19 vaccine when it is available to them.

The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine underwent pre-clinical testing in rhesus macaques and Syrian golden hamsters before human trials.

Compared to many of its counterparts, the AstraZeneca vaccine is easier and less expensive to manufacture, store, and transport. It’s been featured prominently in the vaccination strategies of many developing and developed countries for these reasons. 

There is no scientific evidence demonstrating that taking medically-advised diclofenac after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine can cause complications. According to [CDC guidelines](https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/covid-19-vaccines-us.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fvaccines%2Fcovid-19%2Finfo-by-product%2Fclinical-considerations.html) “for all currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines, NSAIDs can be taken for the treatment of post-vaccination symptoms.” This includes the use of diclofenac, and as long as recommended amounts are not exceeded and are in line with medical advises. 

There is no available evidence that suggests eating dates can help treat COVID-19 or make it worse. Additionally, according to the NIH, there is not enough information to suggest any vitamin, minerals, herbal or botanical ingredient can prevent or treat COVID-19. Experts recommend eating a well-balanced diet to stay healthy and build a strong immune system that can fight infections and illnesses. It is recommended that one may contact a nutritionist for more advice on individual requirements. 

New-onset diabetes has been observed in patients with COVID-19. Scientists suspect that coronavirus may impair glucose metabolism by affecting the pancreatic beta cells that produce insulin.

There have been no large-scale studies to date that have examined the potential side-effects of a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, but it is likely that there may be more acute episodes of the common side effects that tend to happen after a second dose (e.g. headaches, tiredness, muscle pain, fevers, swelling). There is no evidence to show that a third dose would cause increased rates of cancers, heart attacks, or death among those vaccinated. 

There is no graphene oxide in any part of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.

There have been multiple studies looking at ivermectin to prevent or treat COVID-19. The drug has not been approved for COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the European Medicinces Agency (EMA). The current US National Institutes of Health recommendation states that "there are insufficient data for the COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel (the Panel) to recommend either for or against the use of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19."  

Since mRNA is very delicate, delivery into cells can be a challenge. Scientists used a delivery method using tiny balls of fat called liquid nanoparticles. These can help transport mRNA into the body safely, without degrading the mRNA. COVID-19 mRNA vaccines use liquid nanoparticles to deliver the vaccine formulas to the targeted cells. It is likely that any potential future “superhero” vaccines produced using genomic medicine may also use the delivery method of encasing mRNA in a envelope of fats. For now, this is a theoretical idea.

N95 masks that have been approved by national health agencies and international organizations do not pose a substantial threat to human health and are effective in preventing the spread of disease. However, counterfeit masks made with non-polypropylene material may have questionable contents.

Most COVID-19 vaccines are administered by injection into our upper arm, away from any major blood vessels. Once injected, the muscle cells around the injection site express the spike protein, thereby eliciting an immune response from the body. A large proportion of the remaining dose in the arm drains through our lymphatic system, into the liver and then is destroyed by enzymes there. A very small proportion may ultimately end up in other tissues or the bloodstream. 

Think about cycle thresholds like zooming in on a photo over and over again to find something small you’re looking for. If the thing you’re looking for in a photo is small like a mosquito, you’ll have to zoom in multiple times to see it. If it’s big and obvious like a firetruck, you won’t need to zoom in as much. Such is the case with PCR testing. The more viral particles in a test sample, the fewer cycles (or zoom ins) are required to detect the virus. Less viral material in a sample means more cycles are needed to find the small amounts of the virus.

The combination of eating instant noodles and drinking soft drinks at the same time is not known to cause serious or life-threatening events. Reports of an experiment, where instant noodles mixed with soft drinks caused a ziplock bag to “blow up,” are unverified and improbable. The explosive reaction caused by mixing soda and Mentos cannot be replicated in the digestive system.

As of July. 16, 2021 the block of countries that make up East Africa have administered the highest rate of COVID-19 vaccine doses on the continent. The shots that have been given in East Africa are mainly AstraZeneca doses obtained through the vaccine-sharing alliance COVAX. The vaccine rollout strategy in East Africa prioritizes at-risk groups and relies heavily on community health workers to give out the shots.

A superspreader event occurs when a single infection spreads among attendees at a gathering, resulting in an unusually large outbreak at once. This mode of transmission has been observed with the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV) epidemic, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV), Ebola, smallpox, tuberculosis, and the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Booster shots re-expose our bodies to the part of the vaccine that protects us against disease. They increase immunity to a virus or bacteria through a process called immunological memory. Immunological memory is our body’s ability to recognize and provide responses to previously encountered foreign invaders like COVID-19. 

Nanoparticle masks may be effective at preventing microorganisms to grow, but each mask has different levels of protections and not all may be safe. For this reason, only masks certified by national and international health organizations should be worn after randomized controlled trials can show the masks are safe and effective. Otherwise, wearing a cloth mask over a surgical mask is still the safest way to stop the spread of COVID-19 through masking for non-health professionals.

Research suggests that COVID-19 infection and erectile dysfunction (ED) are linked. However, the cause and relationship need to be studied further. The full extent of the problem, whether it is permanent, temporary or it affects fertility, is yet to be known and requires further observational studies. ED is also known to be linked with cardiovascular health issues and therefore, could act as an indicator to assess any pulmonary or cardiovascular conditions in COVID-19 patients.

Among people with bleeding disorders, vaccination may cause a drop in the small blood cells that help the body form clots and stop bleeding. These blood cells are called platelets. Experts believe that despite a possible drop in platelet levels, the benefits of vaccination outweigh risks. 

The Indian government did not provide residents with vitamin D to control the epidemic.

A lot can be learned and based off of the percent-positive rate (e.g. how many tests result positive out of all the tests taken) and the number of cases in total. We cannot assume that an increase in cases or a growing percent-positive rate is purely a result of an increase in testing instead of a growing outbreak. Instead, we need to look at all of them together. A rise in the number of reported cases of COVID-19 could be related to an expansion of testing if the percentage of positive tests decreases or stays the same at the same time that the number of cases increases. Should percentage of positive tests increase while case counts also go up, this indicates that we cannot entirely blame the increase on expanded testing. The biggest indicator of a growing outbreak is if the percentage of positive tests increases along with the number of cases despite testing data staying the same or decreasing. When testing is not always widely available and reserved just for symptomatic people, the percent positivity will increase as with the number of cases. If testing is expanded and made more available, we will gain a better understanding of the true number of cases and percent-positive rate. If this percent positivity continues to grow along with the number of cases, this would be an indicator that the outbreak is worsening.

Someone who is vaccinated shouldn’t think they are absolutely immune, because they can still get what is called a "breakthrough infection" (an infection that happens to someone who is fully vaccinated). Breakthrough infections are relatively rare and CDC guidance says that, typically, ~2 weeks after the full course of COVID-19 vaccination, the body builds some protection (immunity) that can last for at least several months. This protection is highly effective at preventing serious disease, hospitalization, and death. 

Vaccine production for COVID-19 immunizations has interrupted, delayed, re-organized, or completely suspended other shots, especially routine childhood vaccines. As a result, many countries have been experiencing a decline in immunization coverage of vaccine-preventable childhood diseases

Vaccine production for COVID-19 immunizations has interrupted, delayed, re-organized, or completely suspended other shots, especially routine childhood vaccines. As a result, many countries have been experiencing a decline in immunization coverage of vaccine-preventable childhood diseases

Heart muscle inflammation or "myocarditis" has appeared in a small group of people, mostly men under 30, who recently received a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine.

There is not enough high quality evidence to suggest that mixing boiled water with lettuce can help cure or treat insomnia.

The Delta variant was first detected in India in December 2020 and has since been verified in 77 countries today, rising from 62 countries earlier in June according to the World Health Organization.

Delta Plus, which was first identified in India, has also been detected in other countries around the world, including the U.S., the U.K., China, Japan, Nepal, Russia, Portugal, Switzerland, and Poland. The Delta Plus variant is related to the Delta variant (also known as B.1.617.2), which is an existing Variant of Concern and is thought to be behind India's massive second wave of infections in April and May of 2021.

However, it should be noted that spraying disinfectants in public places may be harmful to humans as exposure to disinfectant sprays can cause dangerous respiratory effects when inhaled. Other potential impacts are skin and eye irritation, potential corrosion, and some disinfectants might have a chemical (formaldehyde) that is known to cause cancer. Lastly, some chemical disinfectants are flammable, explosive, can generate toxic gases, and can potentially be harmful to the environment, so serious caution should be taken when spraying any of these disinfectants to large surface areas or for a prolonged period of time.

Sub-Saharan Africa is the optimal breeding ground for mosquitoes (which transmit malaria) due to its tropical climate. Children are more susceptible to the disease because their immune systems are not developed enough to have built up some tolerance or partial immunity to malaria most adults have in malaria-endemic regions have acquired.

Millions of PCR tests have been conducted all over the world to diagnose COVID-19 and they have been deemed safe for use. The PCR test is the most accurate and reliable way to find out if someone is infected with coronavirus disease. The swabs are sterilized, and the tips on which the mucous sample is collected are made of synthetic materials like nylon, rayon, foam, or polyester. No magnetic substances are used in the swab tips or swabs.

There is no scientific evidence to suggest that taking an anesthetic after getting any COVID-19 vaccine is life-threatening or in any way dangerous. Anesthetics do, however, have the potential to reduce the effectiveness of a vaccine if taken soon after a vaccine is received.

The One Health approach focuses on multi-sectoral, collaborative approaches to animal, human, and environmental health. One Health establishes the interconnectedness of each of these living groups on one another, including their influence on established and emerging diseases.

Abstinence or not having sex is a personal choice and can be for any reason. There is nothing wrong with not having sex and there are no known negative side effects. Social media and messaging may sometimes shame people who choose to not have sex, but not having sex is not a dysfunctionality. While there are a few studies that have looked at the effects of sexual activity and health, there is no scientific evidence that validates claims that not having sex for a long time can weaken one’s immune system.

The threat of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines influencing your DNA are almost non-existent.

There is currently insufficient evidence that wireless headphones pose enough of a health risk to stop using them. People who are concerned can limit the hours that wireless headphones are worn, use alternatives like speakers when possible, and seek guidance from qualified health professionals. 

Flying does not increase the risk of blood clots in people who have been vaccinated. Though the risk of blood clots increases in people who are flying, this is not related to COVID-19 vaccines and these types of blood clots are different than the blood clots that have occurred in very few cases of people who have received the AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

Wearing only a face shield to prevent COVID-19 infection or spread is not recommended. Face shields alone have not been shown to protect the person wearing the shield from spreading or being infected with the virus. COVID-19 can spread through the air in small droplets. The droplets can go around face shields at the sides or bottom and enter the nose, mouth, or eyes. Clear face shields, goggles, or other eye coverings may be used together with a face mask for protection.

Midazolam is a sedative primarily given to patients before a surgery or medical procedure, to help with seizures, and to critically ill patients in hospital settings. The medication has not been linked to premature deaths in patients that were purposely mislabeled as deaths caused by COVID-19.

COVID-19 vaccines do not cause catatonia. Recent studies have noted that a small number of people infected with COVID-19 developed catatonia after their infections. These people were not vaccinated.

Waves of an illness occur when daily rates of infections increase over time, reach a peak, then decrease more over time. Many different characteristics determine what makes a wave occur in each region but certain aspects remain the same.

As of May 2021, there is no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 vaccines are leading to antibody-dependent enhancement.

Masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves, gowns, and face shields provide protection by preventing the coronavirus from coming in physical contact with us and entering our bodies.  Vaccines, on the other hand, build our immune system to fight the virus should it somehow enter our bodies. With external and internal protections, we can improve our chances of being safe from the impact of coronavirus.

At large gatherings during a pandemic, there can be increased risks for disease transmission that could increase the rate of new cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Experts are often most concerned about large gatherings where public health precautions are not taken, such as "anti-lockdown" protests where people are less likely to engage in physical distancing, mask wearing, hand sanitizing, vaccination, and staying home while sick. Even when certain large gatherings are likely responsible for transmitting new cases of disease, it can be difficult to see a spike following the gathering when new cases have been falling overall thanks to protective public health measures as well as increases in vaccinations. Additionally, there is often not enough data being collected to see the public health impact of specific events.

Most COVID-19 vaccines, just like natural infections, produce substantial antibodies in people who have received them. Antibodies help the immune system fight infections by latching onto antigens and marking them for destruction.

Vaccine efficacy rates tell us how well the new COVID-19 vaccines prevent people from COVID-19 infection in clinical trials. They do not tell us the exact vaccine effectiveness rates that can be expected once the vaccines are used for the public.

Wearing a cloth mask over a snug fitting surgical mask can offer much more protection than wearing one mask alone.

Seychelles has the highest percentage of vaccinated people in the country per capita. Though the nation is dealing with a current surge in cases, it does not have the world's biggest surge in terms of total cases or as a percentage of its population.

Mucormycosis is a rare but very severe fungal infection that mostly impacts people with weakened immune systems. The infection is likely connected to COVID-19 for a number of reasons, including because of COVID-19’s weakening of the immune system, COVID-19’s connection to other conditions such as diabetes that weaken the immune system, and the use of steroids to treat COVID-19 that weaken the immune system.

A pulse oximeter is a small device that attaches to a finger or ear lobe to measure the amount of oxygen in the blood. The machine painlessly sends light through the skin to measure how much light reflects off of red blood cells. More reflection of light means more oxygen saturation, less reflection of light means less oxygen saturation.   Some digital pulse oximeters are very accurate, but others are not. Prescription oximeters that undergo testing by regulatory agencies are recommended. Devices that can be purchased over-the-counter in a pharmacy, store, or online are not recommended. Nail polish (or artificial nails), dirt, poor circulation, some medicines, skin thickness and temperature, tobacco use, and dark-colored skin can make pulse oximeter readings less accurate.

Using one mortality rate to describe the impact of the pandemic around the world would not make for an accurate description of the situation. The number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths per million varies a lot from location to location, and depends on many factors. It also keeps changing over time. To give a comparative picture of the impact of the disease, the estimated case fatality rate (CFR) for SARS-CoV is 10%. Seasonal flu's case fatality rate in the U.S is about 0.1 to 0.2%, according to available data.

Viruses infect cells and then copy themselves into others. When errors or random mistakes happen, they are called mutations. When a virus undergoes significant mutations, it becomes a variant.

The Pfizer vaccine is being developed and produced by Pfizer, Inc. and the biotech company BioNTech SE. It is a genetic mRNA vaccine (mRNA-1273) currently in Phase 3 clinical trials across the globe. Here is a breakdown of everything you need to know so far about this vaccine’s development. \*\*Collaborators: \*\*Biopharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc, based in New York City, and BioNTech, biotechnology company based in Mainz, Germany, are collaborating on vaccine development and testing for the mRNA-based vaccine candidate BNT162b2. \*\*Latest information on how well the vaccine works:\*\* On November 30, 2020 with primary efficacy analysis data from its Phase 3 trial, Pfizer announced its experimental COVID-19 vaccine to be 95% effective 28 days after the first of two doses.  Out of approximately 44,000 total study participants, 170 contracted COVID-19. 162 who got infected were from the placebo group—meaning they didn’t receive the vaccine—and only 8 who got infected were in the group that was vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine.  Ten of the COVID-19 cases were severe. Nine of those people were from the placebo group. One severe case was in the vaccinated group. This suggests the vaccine has high protection for severe COVID-19 cases, at 95% efficacy, meaning that if 100 study participants were the vaccine doses, 95 patients would not contract the disease and 5 would.  There have been no reported COVID-19-related deaths in the study. These new results of 95% efficacy are higher than the vaccine’s first interim analysis conducted during the study (announced on November 9th, 2020), which reported 90% efficacy based on an analysis of 94 COVID-19 cases among trial participants. Based on a study published in February 2021 in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was found to appear to be highly effective against the more transmissible variant of the virus first detected in the U.K. (B.1.1.7) (virtually no drop from 95% efficacy). However, the vaccine showed a decreased ability to neutralize the strain first detected in South Africa (B.1.351). Specifically, they found that there was about a two-thirds drop in neutralization power (antibody power) against this variant compared to other forms of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. It’s important to note that the vaccine was still able to neutralize the virus, and likely still may protect individuals from getting severe forms of the virus. In addition, these are initial lab experiments that are difficult to extrapolate results from. Pfizer has said that evidence is needed to understand how the vaccine works against the variant in real life. The company stated, "Nevertheless, Pfizer and BioNTech are taking the necessary steps, making the right investments, and engaging in the appropriate conversations with regulators to be in a position to develop and seek authorization for an updated mRNA vaccine or booster once a strain that significantly reduces the protection from the vaccine is identified.” \*\*Approvals:\*\* As of December 2, 2020, the U.K. authorized the distribution of Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 for emergency supply, making the vaccine the first in the world to achieve authorization for COVID-19. Two days following the U.K.’s authorization, Bahrain approved the emergency use of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine, making it the second country in the world to do so. Five days following on December 9, Canada’s regulatory agency Health Canada approved the vaccine. On Friday, December 11, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine. Soon after, Pfizer and BioNTech bega rolling review processes with other global regulatory bodies, including in the U.S., Europe, Australia and Japan, and has been submitting applications to other regulatory agencies around the world, primarily in the Global North, with a range of approvals. \*\*Distribution timeline:\*\* Following the U.K.’s emergency approval on December 2, 2020, the companies began delivering the first doses to the U.K. nearly immediately, starting on December 8, 2020. Canada is set to receive 249,000 doses before the end of December to distribute across 14 different vaccination sites throughout Canadian cities. Following the U.S. approval of the vaccine on December 11, 2020, the U.S. will initially distribute approximately 2.9 million doses to all 50 states.  The distribution timeline for other countries undergoing the approval process will depend on the distribution decisions made by regulators there. Some countries are already coordinating pre-approval distribution and in many of these regions and countries, logistics surrounding the supply chain of the vaccine are being decided upon and run through so that when there is an approval, distribution can begin immediately. \*\*Distribution plan:\*\* In projections, Pfizer hopes to produce and supply up to 25 million vaccine doses in 2020 and 100 million doses before the start of March, with an estimated total distribution of up to 1.3 billion doses in 2021. Four of Pfizer’s facilities are part of the manufacturing and supply chain; St. Louis, MO; Andover, MA; and Kalamazoo, MI in the U.S.; and Puurs in Belgium. BioNTech’s German sites will also be leveraged for global supply. Each of these sites are important links in a global supply chain being assembled to tackle the massive logistical challenge of distributing COVID-19 vaccines around the world.  Jurisdictions primarily have the responsibility of determining who receives the vaccine in what order. For instance, within the U.S. each state will receive a certain number of doses of the vaccine based on residential populations. States have been asked to create their own plans for who will get the first doses.  In the U.K., British front-line health-care workers, as well as care-home staff and residents, are receiving the first doses. Bahrain has said that they plan to inoculate everyone 18 years and older at 27 different medical facilities, hoping to be able to vaccinate 10,000 people a day; so far, they have the second-highest vaccination rate in the world behind Israel. In general, the most likely distribution plan is for the vaccine to first go to emergency department clinicians, outpatient clinicians, testers at symptomatic sites, other high-risk health care workers, immunocompromised individuals, EMTs, and potentially essential federal employees, followed by the rest of the general population.  Vaccination distribution in some countries is moving more slowly than anticipated. In the U.S, for example, just 2.6 million individuals were vaccinated by December 31, 2020 compared to the 20 million goal by the end of 2020. In response, scientists and public health practitioners are considering vaccination tactics that differ from those that the FDA and other country’s health regulatory bodies approved. The tactics being considered are primarily halving doses of vaccines and delaying second doses to get first doses to more individuals, but also include reducing the number of doses and mixing and matching doses.  Health officials in the UK have already decided to delay second doses of two vaccines, one made by AstraZeneca and one made by Pfizer and BioNTech, and to mix and match the two vaccines for the two doses under limited circumstances. This decision has received mixed responses from scientists and public health practitioners, many of whom are concerned about the lack of data, particularly with regards to a mix-and-match approach.  The U.S. FDA critiqued the idea of halving the doses of the Moderna vaccine, saying that the idea was “premature and not rooted solidly in the available science.” Studies are underway to determine whether doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine can be halved to 50 micrograms in order to double the supply of the vaccination doses in the U.S., according to the National Institutes of Health and Moderna.  \*\*Vaccine storage conditions:\*\* Storage requirements are important to consider for new vaccines. In order for vaccines to be safe and effective, they must be held at the correct temperature during distribution and storage in health centers, pharmacies, and clinics. Maintaining the correct storage temperature can be difficult, especially if the vaccine’s temperature requirement is very cold.  The Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine can be stored for five days at refrigerated 2-8°C (36-46°F) conditions (refrigerators that are commonly available at hospitals); up to 15 days in Pfizer thermal shippers in which doses will arrive that can be used as temporary storage units by refilling with dry ice; and up to 6 months in ultra-low-temperature freezers, which are commercially available and can extend the vaccine’s shelf life.  With regards to transit, Pfizer is using dry ice to maintain the recommended temperature conditions of -70°C±10°C (-94°F) for up to 10 days while in transit. However, Pfizer and BioNTech have determined that the vaccine can be moved only four times. \*\*Type of vaccine:\*\* The mRNA-1273 vaccine is what scientists are calling a genetic mRNA vaccine. This type of vaccine works by using genetic information from the coronavirus, which is injected into the body. The genetic information enters into human cells, instructs the body to make special spike proteins like the coronavirus, and causes the immune system to respond. \*\*Dosage:\*\* In the current Phase 3 clinical trial, participants receive two injections of 30 micrograms each into their upper arm muscle. The injections are given 21 days apart. Once an individual gets the first dose, they must get the second dose three weeks later in order to complete the vaccination. If approved, researchers expect that the same dosage and schedule will be prescribed to the public. A recent Israeli study that released results in February 2021 by the Lancet found that a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine was 85% effective against COVID-19 infection between two and four weeks after the first dose, and that the overall reduction in infections was 75%, including asymptomatic cases. Public health practitioners are enthusiastic about this finding of high efficacy after just one dose; However, the authors cautioned that the low numbers of COVID-19 cases in the study, and the fact that the study was conducted at one hospital, make it difficult to reach exact estimates and that these findings should be interpreted with caution. The study also does not determine the length of protection. Pfizer did not comment on the data, stating that “the vaccine’s real-world effectiveness in several locations worldwide, including Israel.”   Studies out of the U.K., which has been the quickest to inoculate its population, have also found that a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine could avert most COVID-19-related hospitalizations, though investigators stated it was too early to give precise estimates of the effect. \*\*How the vaccine is being studied:\*\* Vaccines are tested and studied in multiple phases (phased testing) to determine if they are safe and work to prevent illness. Before a vaccine is tested on humans, which is known as the preclinical phase, it is tested on laboratory cells or animals. Once it is approved for human research, there are three phases that take place before the vaccine can be considered for approval for public use. During the first stage (Phase I), the new vaccine is provided to small groups of people—the first time the vaccine is tested in humans to test safety (primarily) and efficacy of the vaccine.  The second stage (Phase II) involves testing the vaccine on people who have similar characteristics (such as age and physical health) to the target population, or the group for which the vaccine is intended. The goal of this stage is to identify the most effective doses and schedule for Phase III trials. The final stage (Phase III) provides the vaccine to thousands of people from the target population to see how safe and effective it is.  Once the vaccine has undergone Phase 3 testing, the manufacturer can apply for a license from regulatory authorities (like the FDA in the US) to make the vaccine available for public use. Once approved, the drugmaker will work with national governments and international health organizations to monitor vaccine recipients for potential side effects from the vaccine that were not seen in clinical trials (this is called surveillance). This phase also helps researchers understand how well a vaccine works over a longer time frame and how safe it is for the population. \*\*How Pfizer looked for COVID-19 cases in their trials:\*\* Researchers have standard definitions for routinely detecting COVID-19 cases for both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. For symptomatic individuals, there are three definitions considered for defining a COVID-19 case for the study. The first two are for regular cases, and the third is for severe cases.  The first definition is the presence of at least one COVID-19 symptom and a positive COVID-19 test (such as a PCR test) during, or within 4 days before or after, the symptomatic period, either at the central laboratory or at a local testing facility. The second definition is the same, but expands the definition to include four additional COVID-19 symptoms defined by the CDC (fatigue; headache, nasal congestion or runny nose, nausea). The third definition, which defines severe COVID-19 cases for the study, is a confirmed COVID-19 test per the above guidelines in addition to one of the following symptoms: clinical signs at rest indicative of severe systemic illness, respiratory failure, evidence of shock, significant acute renal, hepatic, or neurologic dysfunction, admission to an ICU, or death. The Pfizer research protocol states that for individuals who do not clinically present COVID-19 (that is, asymptomatic individuals), a serological test is used for defining a case, which measures the amount of antibodies or proteins present in the individual’s blood, and a positive case is defined as the presence of antibodies in an individual who had a prior negative test. By using these four definitions, researchers are able to detect COVID-19 cases in both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. However, the pharmaceutical company has stated that there are more data on the vaccine’s safety and efficacy for symptomatic cases, and that more data is needed to better understand the vaccine’s safety and efficacy for asymptomatic cases. \*\*Preclinical testing:\*\* Before testing could begin on humans, the trial vaccine was tested on primates at both 30 micrograms and 100 micrograms. On September 9, 2020, results were published demonstrating that the Pfizer vaccine had strong antiviral protection against the virus SARS-CoV-2. As a result, the Pfizer and BioNTech were permitted to advance the vaccine into human clinical trials by the FDA in the form of through the Investigational New Drug application (IND). \*\*Phase 1 trial:\*\* 45 healthy adults 18–55 and 65–85 years old were randomly assigned to either the placebo group or the vaccine group to receive 2 doses at 21-day intervals of placebo or either of 2 mRNA-based vaccines (BNT162b2 or BNT162b1, which was one of several RNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines studied in parallel for selection to advance to a next trial). Participants received either 10, 20, or 30 microgram dose levels of BNT162b1, or BNT162b2 on a 2-dose schedule, 21 days apart. Both participants and observers working on the study were “blinded,” or not aware of which participants were receiving the active vaccines (and which ones) versus the treatment, in order to help prevent bias.  Both with 10 micrograms and 30 micrograms of vaccine BNT162b1, and t 7 days after a second dose of 30 micrograms of the BNT162b2 vaccine, “SARS-CoV-2–neutralizing antibodies” were elicited—special proteins that disable viruses in the body—in younger adults (18-55 years of age) and older adults (65-85 years of age). Younger participants had 3.8 times more antibodies than people who had recovered from the virus. In older adults (65-85 years of age) the vaccine candidate triggered antibodies at 1.6 times the volume of those who had recovered from the virus in the same age group. Vaccine BNT162b2, now known as the “Pfizer vaccine,” was associated with fewer reactions (such as fever and chills), and was therefore selected for Phase 2/3 trials.  In terms of safety and tolerability of vaccine BNT162b2, reactions were still reported. Study participants reported pain at the injection site, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, and fever. Most of these reactions and symptoms peaked by the day after vaccination and resolved by day 7.  \*\*Phase 2/3 trial: \*\*In an effort to speed up the trial, Phases 2 and 2 of the Pfizer vaccine were combined. This phase continued off of Phase 1 and also contained a placebo group as a control with patients randomly assigned into either the placebo group or vaccine group for vaccine BNT162b2. As with Phase 1, the observers and participants were also “blinded.” The first 360 participants enrolled made up the “Phase 2” portion, with 180 randomly assigned to receive the active vaccine and 180 to receive the placebo, stratified equally between 18 to 55 years and >55 to 85 years. Phase 3 enrolled 43,538 trial participants overall, half of whom were randomly assigned to receive the vaccine and half of whom were randomly assigned to receive the placebo. Out of 170 cases of COVID-19 among the study participants,162 cases of COVID-19 were observed in the placebo group versus 8 cases in the vaccine group, indicating 95% efficacy of the vaccine. No serious safety concerns were observed. Data collection is ongoing. \*\*Reported side effects and safety concerns:\*\* The study’s Data Monitoring Committee did not report any serious safety concerns related to the vaccine based on the trial data. Adverse events at or greater than 2% in frequency that were reported were fatigue at 3.8% and headache at 2.0%. Potential allergic reactions occurred in 0.63% of those who received the vaccine, compared with 0.51% of those who received the placebo.  On December 9, one day after the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine began being distributed to individuals outside of the clinical trial in the UK, UK regulators advised that individuals with a history of anaphylaxis to a vaccine, medication, or food should not receive the vaccine. This warning was issued in response to two reports of anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) -- both among individuals with histories of severe allergies -- and one report of a possible allergic reaction since distribution in the UK began. Pfizer and BioNTech have stated that they are working with investigators to better understand the cases and causes of the reactions.  Within the clinical trial, individuals with a history of severe allergic reactions were excluded from the trials, and doctors were asked to look for such reactions in trial participants who weren’t previously known to have severe allergies. UK regulators also required health care workers to report any negative reactions to help regulators collect more information about safety and effectiveness.  In addition, four people who received the vaccine during trials later developed Bell’s palsy at 3, 9, 37, and 48 days after vaccination, respectively. Because these trials were so large, however, this is not more than we would expect to develop Bell’s palsy in a group of this size by chance. Bell’s palsy is a weakness or paralysis of one side of the face which is usually temporary. Any cases of Bell’s palsy and any other potential side effects or adverse reactions will continue to be monitored and evaluated for as the vaccine continues to be rolled out to the public. \*\*Impact on different populations:\*\* Pfizer and BioNTech both say they aimed to make their trials as diverse as possible to understand the vaccine’s effect on different populations. The trial participants are approximately 30% U.S. participants and 42% non-U.S. participants from across 150 trial sites globally. The participants are reported to have racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds. In the trials, 41% of global and 45% of U.S. participants are 56-85 years of age. Efficacy was reported to be consistent across age, gender, race and ethnicity demographics.  Notably, the observed efficacy in individuals over 65 years of age was observed to be greater than 94%. In September 2020, Pfizer and BioNTech expanded Phase 3 enrollment to approximately 44,000 participants. This expansion allowed for the enrollment of new, more diverse, populations, including adolescents as young as 16 years of age, and individuals with chronic, stable human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV), Hepatitis C, or Hepatitis B infection. In October 2020, Pfizer and BioNTech received permission from the FDA to enroll adolescents as young as 12. Their explanation for these expansions is to enable better understanding of the potential safety and efficacy of the vaccine in individuals from more ages and backgrounds.

None of the COVID-19 vaccines approved for emergency use contain any metals or use any radiation technology that would emit high levels of electric and magnetic fields (EMF).

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently stated that they believe it is safe to administer COVID-19 vaccines at the same time as other vaccines. However, vaccines given on the same day should be injected in different areas, there is uncertainty about whether or not giving two or more different vaccines at once may cause worse side effects, or if vaccines containing weakened live viruses might require different guidance. At this time, the World Health Organization has not issued new recommendations for administering different vaccines at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine, though it has listed the AstraZeneca vaccines for emergency use. This vaccine contains a weakened live pathogen so health regulators may decide if it is safe to administer this vaccine at the same time as others.

If you’ve had a COVID-19 vaccine or survived COVID-19 infection, you can still be susceptible to COVID-19 in rare cases, including any variants. However, your risk of infection from any variant of COVID-19 following recovery of infection or a COVID-19 is significantly lower than it would be otherwise, and most approved vaccines have demonstrated effectiveness at protecting against severe, critical, and fatal COVID-19 disease, even with variants of concern.

Sinopharm's two-dose COVID-19 vaccine was shown to have an efficacy rate of roughly 79% to protect against symptomatic and hospitalized infections. Controversy over the lack of published data about the vaccine has continued despite Sinopharm receiving emergency use authorization from the World Health Organization.

Getting any expired vaccine can mean that you are not protected as well or at all from a disease. It’s also possible that certain inactive vaccines could cause harmful reactions, but there are not many documented cases of this happening, and no documented cases of this happening with COVID-19 vaccines. Because COVID-19 manufacturers were very cautious in setting expiration dates, it’s possible that COVID-19 vaccines are effective for a short period of time even after the set expiration date.

We do not yet know if Sinovac's COVID-19 third dose is safe or effective. A third injection is being tested in a Chinese clinical trial now. It is not recommended to have a third vaccine dose until more data has been studied and it has been deemed safe by health organizations.

No, COVID-19 vaccines are not being used to inject tracking chips. Health organizations, national health and drug regulatory agencies, and disease control centers would not approve vaccines that secretly track patients without their consent. For COVID-19 vaccines, rigorous clinical trials with tens of thousands of patients have occurred and full ingredient lists have been analyzed by health bodies before they approve or deny the use of a vaccine. Of the COVID-19 vaccines that have been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) for emergency use, none of them have any tracking chips in their ingredients, immunization syringes, or any other place. COVID-19 vaccine vial labels may contain RFID chips for supply chain and inventory tracking purposes. Technology experts say that injecting microchips into a body would not be a practical way to track people due to current technical constraints as well as cost, particularly given existing alternatives for location tracking. The videos with false claims about COVID-19 vaccines containing microchips were determined to have manipulated footage. 

While there is no evidence that fainting is an immediate side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine for adults, adolescents, or kids, it can happen after any vaccination, especially among adolescents. Experts are not entirely sure why fainting occurs after vaccination, but believe that it is most likely related to the process of getting a vaccine itself--specifically pain and anxiety--which adolescents may be more prone to.

We do not know how the COVID-19 virus will impact people during colder winter months, but many experts predict higher rates of transmission and mortality than during the warmer, summer months. This is likely due to the impact cold weather has on human behavior such as forcing people inside where higher temperatures are preferred and ventilation is not sufficient to combat the spread of the virus. With groups of people congregating in confined spaces with limited airflow, the virus is able to circulate easily through aerosolized particles and respiratory droplets. Additionally, since a large percentage of COVID-19 have asymptomatic infections but they are still able to transmit the virus, many infected people are likely not restricting their movements to one quarantined room or area or taking necessary distancing or masking protocols. Traditionally, viruses like influenza and the common cold tend to increase amounts of infections in the winter and decrease in the summer. As with these other respiratory viruses, COVID-19 transmission will be impacted dramatically by control and prevention measures like social distancing, masking, and vaccination. The more people who engage in these activities, the more likely infections can be prevented. Though some viruses do not like humid, hot conditions, COVID-19 has been shown to spread rapidly in some regions during warm spring and summer months in both hemispheres. A study from October 13, 2020, before widespread prevention measures were undertaken showed that infections increased more quickly in places with less UV light and suggested that without any interventions, case rates may be highest in the winter and lower in the summer. However, weather itself does not appear to have an impact on the ability of the virus to spread though colder weather may make it more difficult for the body to fight respiratory infections. At this point, it is unknown whether or not COVID-19 will become a seasonal virus like influenza but we should expect any event that brings together people in closed environment can lead to an increased spread of the virus.

Wearing a face mask does not put you at a higher risk of cancer. There is no current evidence linking the use of face masks to cancer, and science shows that any risks associated with wearing masks are low overall, while the benefits are high.  Because of how tiny oxygen and carbon dioxide molecules are, face masks neither decrease the amount of oxygen that enters a mask nor increase the amount of carbon dioxide that stays in a mask. As a result, face masks do not disrupt the body’s pH levels, affect the bloodstream, or alter one’s body in any way that would put someone at higher risk of cancer. The claim that wearing face masks causes cancer has been circulating on Facebook and other social media platforms, citing a January 2021 study that did not study face masks or mask wearing in general. An article from Blacklisted News falsely suggested that mask wearing can lead to reproduction of bacteria, which then leads to cancer. The articled stated that harmful microbes can grow in a moist environment, like the ones created around the mouth and face because of constant mask wearing. The article suggests that microbes can grow and replicate before traveling through the trachea into blood vessels in the lungs. From there, they allege the the microbes cause an inflammatory response. It's true that oral bacteria can contribute to oral infections, dental plaque, and cancer. However, bacteria is also a normal part of our skin and other organs. It can contribute to health in positive and negative ways. The study that linked mask wearing to the development of advanced lung cancer did not involve long-term mask wearing as part of the study. The article that wrote about it falsely assumed that masks could be the cause of this bacteria, rather than its normal presence in the human body and microbiome. There is no evidence that mask wearing can pose a danger to health, including altered carbon dioxide and oxygen levels. Bacteria can build up over time in a mask, so they should be cleaned and dried properly. This build up does not cause cancer.  The American Lung Association verified that masks cannot cause lung cancer and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that any carbon dioxide build up in masks should not impact people who wear face masks in order to prevent COVID-19 infections and transmission.

Researchers have been studying the links between air pollution and negative health outcomes, both before as well as during the COVID-19 pandemic. Long-term exposure to air pollution can lead to underlying health conditions such as respiratory illness, which can lead to higher risk of complications and death from COVID-19 infection. One recent study found that regions with stricter standards for air quality and lower levels of air pollution (ex. Australia) had a lower fraction of COVID-19 deaths attributable to human-made air pollution. Public health professionals recommend continuing to protect people from dangerous levels of air pollution during as well as beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Global leaders often speak of herd immunity as an end goal for stopping the pandemic, but actually achieving this status is much more complicated and difficult than many believe. It will be difficult for the world to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19 in the short-term, but preventing severe infections, hospitalizations, and excess deaths may be possible through widespread vaccination.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine’s list of ingredients, listed on the FDA’s website that allowed for its emergency use authorization include mRNA, lipids, potassium chloride, monobasic potassium phosphate, sodium chloride, dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate, and sucrose. The vaccine is not known to contain any metals or cause any response to magnetic fields. In fact, the small quantity of iron found in the oxygenated blood of the human body is known to repel magnets, which is why we are able to get MRI scans done at hospitals.

While early trial data is promising and Sputnik V appears to be safe and effective, some scientists are skeptical about the clinical trial data from Sputnik V's two-dose vaccine. The vaccine has been approved for full or emergency use in over 60 countries. Sputnik Light is a one-dose version of the vaccine and has only been approved in Russia.

Experts conclude that severe illness from the coronavirus is still rare among children. However, some children might fall severely ill and immediate medical attention should be sought if a child shows symptoms. A child under the age of one year does not have a fully developed immune system and has smaller airways, so although rare, is more likely to fall severely ill. It is advised that caregivers wear masks and have clean hands around a newborn.

The World Health Organization recommends an interval of eight and twelve weeks between the first and second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether a longer amount of time between the two doses than three months if safe and effective. Waiting longer than four weeks between doses appears to make the vaccine more effective.

COVID-19 was first detected in the city of Wuhan, China in late 2019. The virus has since been partially traced back to a large seafood and animal market in the city of Wuhan, after several people who had been to the market became sick with the illness we now know as COVID-19. Scientists were able to use genetic tests to confirm that the virus was first identified in people in the city of Wuhan. Tests on the genetics of viruses, much like genetics in humans, can reveal a lot about their origins. The majority of scientific studies now support the idea that the origin of the virus in animals was bats, specifically horseshoe bats, potentially from China or neighboring countries of Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. Scientists also suggest that the virus may have been passed to humans through an intermediate host before spreading to humans, but are unsure about what animal the host might have been, though pangolins and civets have been suggested. The details about that event, which is called a zoonotic transfer, are still being investigated. World Health Organization experts will soon travel to China and work with Chinese health officials to identify the source of the virus. _This entry was updated with new information on July 16, 2020_

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is an mRNA vaccine with an efficacy rate of 94.1% in clinical trials. After completing several clinical trials, this vaccine has been approved for emergency use authorization in dozens of countries around the world.

Double and triple "mutant" variants have two or three significant mutations among the many other mutations within their genetic codes. As of now, we do not know if these variants are more transmissible or dangerous but early data suggests they may spread more easily from person to person.

Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco is a type of plant that is sometimes used for medicinal purposes. There is not sufficient evidence to suggest that Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco is effective at treating any medical condition, including unhealthy oxygen levels.

Any claims that the fibers of COVID-19 test swabs or face masks are “alive” or cause Morgellons disease—a disputed skin condition—are false and are not backed up by videos or images of such fibers moving on their own or around objects such as meat. The testing swab fibers’ movement can be explained primarily by static. Other potential factors include breath, wind, and movement of the camera. The movement of what some claim to look like “worms” under a microscope in face masks are regular textile fibers moving due to moisture not felt by humans. Other potential factors include static and air movement.

5G is a fifth generation mobile technology network does not cause COVID-19. The idea that 5G is linked to the spread of COVID-19 is a myth and has been widely disproven by experts since January 2020.