How effective is a vaccination? How long does the protection last? And once you get the shots, are you still able to transmit the virus to others? A doctor answers some of the most common questions about the COVID-19 vaccines.
THE LIVE COVERAGE AT 10:00. WRAL NEWS AND YOU AND WILL AIR ON FOX 50. >>> IS THE COVID-19 VACCINE SLOWLY ROLLS OUT, THERE ARE STILL QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW EFFECTIVE IT IS IN VACCINATION, HOW LONG DO THEY LAST, AND ONCE YOU GET THE SHOTS, ARE YOU STILL ABLE TO TRANSMIT THE VIRUS TO OTHERS? KEELY CHALMERS SPOKE WITH AN EXPERT. >> THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THEY WILL AFFECT THEM GREATLY. I NEED TO SAY THAT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I WILL BE HAPPY TO SAY THAT. THESE ARE 95% EFFECTIVE. >> Reporter: DR. 45, AN EXPERT ON DEVELOPMENT FOR THE VACCINES AT OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY. HE ANSWERED QUESTIONS WITH REGARD TO THE COVID-19 VACCINES CURRENTLY BEING ADMINISTERED. CAPITOLS FIVE STRESSED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VACCINES AND THAT THE EFFECTIVENESS IS WELL PROVEN. THERE ARE STILL QUESTIONS SURROUNDING THEM, SUCH AS HOW LONG THE TWO-SHOWN VACCINATIONS WILL LAST. >> WHAT I AM LEARNING IS MODERNA IS BASICALLY SAYING THAT THIS WILL LAST FOR AT LEAST A YEAR. >> Reporter: DR. SAHA SAYS, BECAUSE THESE ARE NEW VACCINES, RESEARCHERS WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR DEFINITIVE ANSWERS . >> WHAT WE HAVE SEEN WITH THE DATA THAT IS THERE, THE LEVELS ARE STILL HIGH AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS ONCE THESE WERE INJECTED. SO, LOOKS LIKE A POSITIVE SIGN, BUT WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE HOW LONG THEY LAST. >> Reporter: ANOTHER QUESTION, EVEN IF YOU GET THE VACCINE, CAN YOU STILL SPREAD THE VIRUS TO OTHERS? DR. SAHA SAYS, THAT WOULD ONLY HAPPEN IF YOU GOT THE VACCINE. YOU CAN STILL CONTRACT THE VIRUS WHICH, ACCORDING TO STUDIES, HAPPENS IN ONLY ABOUT 5% OF CASES. THE DOCTOR SAYS, EVEN THEN, IT'S NOT YET KNOWN IF AN INFECTED, YOU VACCINATED PERSON, CAN SPREAD THE VIRUS. >> TO PEOPLE WHO MIGHT END UP GETTING THE VIRUS, EVEN AFTER GETTING THE VACCINATION, WHETHER THE SPREAD STOPS THERE, THAT HAS NOT BEEN SEEN. THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE GETTING IT ARE NOT GETTING INFECTED. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE SAYING FOR PROVIDERS. >> Reporter: THE DOCTOR EXPECTS MORE VACCINES WILL BE EASIER TO STORE WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE COMING MONTHS. WE SHOULD ALL ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES TO GET THEM. >> AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED AT 70%-80%, TO GET THIS HERD
