THE LATEST: Stay updated on Centenary's COVID-19 response. Learn More.
Go to vaccines.gov to find a COVID-19 vaccine near you. You can also find more information on your state's Department of Health website.
Louisiana has many vaccination locations.
If you or a loved one are having difficulties finding transportation to receive a vaccine, Lyft has partnered with the federal government and other agencies to provide rides for eligible persons. Click here to find out more information.
All of the vaccines available have been approved by the FDA for emergency access and are 100% effective at preventing hospitalizations and deaths.
How do the vaccines work?
Unlike many vaccines, the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines do not contain a dead or a weakened virus that triggers an immune response. Instead, these vaccines contain a genetic instruction manual that tells your immune system how to respond and protect you from exposure to the actual virus.
The technology used in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines is not new. It is called mRNA, or messenger RNA, and it has been around for decades. This is the first time mRNA has been used in a vaccine, but the effect is the same as other vaccines: Your body gets protection without the serious consequences of a severe illness due to COVID-19 exposure.
The J&J vaccine works like many vaccines you are already familiar with. It uses an adenovirus vector, (in this case, a harmless cold virus) that carries the blueprint for the spike proteins on the virus’s surface. This virus works like a Trojan horse, infecting cells and replicating the coronavirus spikes. If you later become infected with the coronavirus, these replicated spikes are how your immune system recognizes and knows how to fight the real thing.
Vaccines are authorized for use by the FDA, meaning clinical trials have proven the vaccines as a safe and effective defense against COVID-19. The FDA and ACIP will continue to monitor safety and effectiveness data.
No steps were skipped during the clinical trials and data review process for COVID-19 vaccines. Safety is a top priority. The COVID vaccines are being held to the same standards as other vaccines to make sure they are safe.
© 2021 Centenary College of Louisiana
