Local

Vaccine experts look to see how the COVID-19 vaccine will stand up to variants

ATLANTA — Experts said that the second dose of the vaccine becomes fully effective after two weeks. This same timetable stands for the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

“I got my second shot three weeks ago,” University of Georgia professor Jarrod Mousa said. Mousa is a professor at the Center for Vaccines and Immunology at the University of Georgia.

However, many question how will they do with the variants?

New variants keep emerging. California just confirmed a double mutation variant from India.

“The good news is the quality of the antibody response actually looks great. So even if these variants start to emerge in greater numbers in Georgia, most likely those who are vaccinated will still be protected,” Mousa said.

TRENDING STORIES

Mousa also pointed out that if boosters are needed in the future, companies, such as Moderna, are already working on that.

Millions of people have been vaccinated at this point. Those who have experienced side effects found the effects are pretty much the same as what showed up in the trials. Those symptoms could include fever and fatigue and usually lasts a day or two.

“I think we’re really past the ‘guinea pig’ stage after millions of people have been vaccinated. We learn what to expect as far as possible side effects,” Mousa said.

Studies in the near future will focus on the time period of the vaccines’ effectiveness and the extent of their ability to reduce transmission.