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Vaccine Information

Dr. Wendelyn Inman, an infectious disease expert and director of public health programs in TSU’s College of Health Sciences, provides answers to frequently asked questions about distribution of the coronavirus vaccines. Dr. Inman was previously chief of epidemiology for the State of Tennessee.

Who will get it first?

Health care workers will receive the vaccine first, then essential workers and those at high risk for getting COVID-19, such as nursing home residents.

Who will get it next?

People who are 16 years and older, because they are most likely to pass the virus on to others. Children who are younger have lower risk of severe cases (severity of cases) and recover faster and better than older individuals.

When will I be able to get it?

Not for a while. There may not be enough for everyone in the United States until late Spring of 2021. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a plan to cover more than 21 million health care workers, then an additional 87 million people who are essential workers. The plan includes immunization of more than 3 million nursing home residents.

After that, the priority is for more than 100 million people who have high-risk medical conditions, and an additional 50 million people who are 65 years and older.

Should I be concerned about the vaccine?

No, since we are going to see so many people immunized before it gets to the general population. Medical providers, the news media, and community agencies will be monitoring the rollout of the vaccines. If something out of the ordinary happens with the vaccine, we should know immediately.

Would you take the vaccine yourself?

Yes. I’m not considered a member of the priority groups, so there is plenty of time for me to see if there are problems with it. If I was a member of the priority group, I would take the vaccine, because I understand that the testing was done to ensure the safety and the benefits of the immunization.

Do you have any concerns about the vaccines?

I want the CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be sensitive to my concerns and my beliefs about how the health care community treats my community. That said, I would like to see the delivery of the vaccines for minority and underserved communities be in the hands of people that we trust.

Where can I get more information?

More information on what the vaccine is and what it does is found on the FDA website:https://www.fda.gov/media/144413/download

The vaccine is free, but providers can charge a fee for giving the shot.  You can check with your local health department or insurance provider to find that out.

When can I get the vaccine?

The vaccine will be given at pharmacies, nursing homes, public clinics, hospitals, doctors’ offices, mobile clinics, and military facilities. Check with those places that you would most likely get an immunization from to find out more information about when.