The AstraZeneca vaccine is a viral vector vaccine. Unlike many vaccines that contain a pathogen or a part of it, viral vector vaccines use a harmless virus (the vector) to deliver a piece of genetic information to our cells. The AstraZeneca vaccine uses a modified common cold virus as it’s vector. The genetic information used in the AstraZeneca vaccine is the instructions to make a spike protein. The spike protein is a piece of Sars-CoV-2 virus that is only found on its surface.

Our cell then makes the spike protein and displays it on its surface. Our immune system recognizes that it doesn’t belong there and begins producing antibodies and activating other immune cells to fight off what it thinks is an infection.

At the end of the process, our bodies have learned how to protect us against future infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. Viral vectors have been studied and used for over 50 years.

The Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines are a new type of vaccine called a Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine. mRNA vaccines teach our cells to make a protein, or even just a piece of a protein, that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. The mRNA is the set of instructions that tell our cells how to make the protein. Once the mRNA is inside our immune cells, the cells use them to make the protein piece, for the COVID-19 vaccines this protein is a piece of the spike protein. After the protein is made, our cells break down the mRNA instructions and get rid of them. The cells then display the protein piece on its surface. Our immune system recognises that the protein doesn’t belong there and begins building an immune response and making antibodies.

Our bodies will then have learned how to protect us against future infection. Although these mRNA vaccines are new, researchers have been studying and working with mRNA vaccines for decades.

Vaccines teach your immune system how to protect you from diseases. It is much safer for your immune system to learn how to protect you from COVID-19 through vaccination than by catching the virus.

There was an unprecedented global effort to develop COVID-19 vaccines as fast as possible. In spite of this, the available vaccines have all still gone through the usual steps required to develop a safe and effective vaccine, no short-cuts were taken.

The vaccines could be developed quicker than usual because:

• There was a huge, global investment into their research
• The technologies used to develop the vaccines have been years in development to prepare for outbreaks of infectious diseases
• China shared the genetic information about Sars-CoV-2 as soon as it was available. This gave researchers a headstart in trying to develop an effective vaccine
• Because Sars-CoV-2 is so infectious and widespread in countries where the vaccine clinical trials were held meant that lots of volunteers in the trials were exposed to the virus. This allowed the trials to quickly measure differences in disease risk between the groups who had received the vaccine and those who had received placebo.
• Large scale manufacturing of the vaccines started before the results of trials were available
• The regulators started conversations very early with those who were developing the vaccines so the authorisation process could be as quick as possible.

All three vaccines approved and licensed for use in Ireland have:

• Been tested with thousands of people as part of clinical trials
• Met strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness
• Been approved and licensed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA)

COVID-19 vaccines are being developed following the same legal requirements for pharmaceutical quality, safety and effectiveness as other medicines. To gain approval (authorisation) for a vaccine, the vaccine developer must submit the results of all testing and trials to the EMA. Regulators carry out a scientific evaluation of the vaccine’s safety, effectiveness and quality, before concluding whether there is sufficient scientific evidence supporting approval. Ireland, through the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), is an active participant in all European reviews. The HPRA contributes directly to the assessment of all new medicines and the monitoring of their safety once in use. 

COVID-19 vaccines are given as an injection into your upper arm. You will need 2 doses.

Current recommendations (subject to further review) are that your second dose will be given to you at least:

• 84 days after your first dose if you get the AstraZeneca vaccine
• 28 days after your first dose if you get the Moderna vaccine
• 21-28 days after your first dose if you get the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

It is unlikely that people will have a choice in which vaccine to get at this stage. Vaccines are not available privately. The National Immunisation Advisory Committee and the National Public Health Emergency TeaHeading 4m will make decisions on the best vaccine for use in each priority group based on the available evidence.

We do not know yet how long immunity will last. Some results from clinical trials with the Moderna vaccine suggest that immunity can last as long as 1 year. Data however is limited. Most of the trials have not taken place over a long enough time period to determine how long immunity lasts. Clinical trials are ongoing to find this out. It is possible that boosters will be needed to continue protection or to confer protection to new Sars-CoV-2 variants if they emerge. Several updates to current vaccines are already being developed.

We do not know yet if being vaccinated stops you from spreading the Sars-CoV-2 virus to other people. There is some evidence emerging that certain vaccines do impact on the transmission (spreading) of the virus, however further research is needed to clarify the extent of this. You, and others around you, will need to continue to follow public health advice following vaccination. Hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, the use of face coverings and social distancing will still be essential to stop the spread of Sars-CoV-2.

If you are in the extremely medically vulnerable category, and advised to cocoon, you will still be advised to stay at home as much as possible and to work from home after you get the COVID-19 vaccine. This advice may change as more information becomes available.

Yes. If you have already had COVID-19, you still need to get vaccinated. This is because you could become infected with the virus again.

There is a small chance you might still get COVID-19 even if you have been vaccinated. But the vaccine should prevent you from getting a moderate or severe case of COVID-19.

Information on the COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women or those who are breastfeeding can be found here:

• HSE Website
• Royal College of Physicians

Please contact your healthcare provider for further advice.

AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine

The AstraZeneca vaccine has been tested on people aged 18 and over. Current evidence is that the vaccine protects 60% of people who get it. The AstraZeneca vaccine was tested on very few people over the age of 55. Clinical trials are ongoing to show how well it works in this age group. Until the clinical trial results are available, the Department of Health have decided the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines will be given to older people in Ireland. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and World Health Organization (WHO) have both recommended the use of AstraZeneca in all adults. The Dept of Health will continue to review the evidence available.

Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

The Moderna vaccine has been tested on people aged 18 and over. Current evidence is that the vaccine protects 94% of people who get it. The clinical trial data show the Moderna vaccine works well in adults of any age.

Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has been tested on people aged 16 and older. The current evidence is that this vaccine protects 95% of people who get it. The clinical trial results show the Pfizer/BioNTech works well in adults of any age.

AstraZeneca

It takes 3 weeks after getting the first dose for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to start to work. It takes 15 days after the second dose to have the best protection.

Moderna

It takes 14 days after getting the second dose for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to start to work.

Pfizer/BioNTech

It takes 7 days after the second dose for the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to work.

As with all medicines, vaccines can cause side effects. Most of these side effects are mild to moderate and short-term. Not everyone gets side effects. The three available COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Ireland have similar side effects but there are some differences.

Common side effects after COVID-19 vaccines

AstraZeneca

The common side effects after the AstraZeneca vaccine are more likely after the first dose of the vaccine. After the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, more than 1 in 10 will experience:

• Feeling tired
• Tenderness, bruising, pain, redness or itching in the arm where they had the vaccine injection
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Joint pain
• Nausea, diarrhoea or vomiting
• Fever (temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or above)

More than one in 100 people may have redness or swelling in the arm where they had the injection.

Moderna vaccine

The common side effects of the Moderna vaccine are more likely after the second dose. After the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, more than 1 in 10 may experience:

• Feeling tired
• Tenderness, swelling, redness or itching in the arm where they had the injection
• Headache
• Swollen lymph glands under the arm where they had the injection
• Muscle pain
• Joint pain
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fever (temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or above)

Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine

The common side effects after the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine are more likely after the second dose. After the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, more than 1 in 10 people may experience:

• Tenderness, swelling or redness in the arm where they had the vaccine injection
• Feeling tired
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Joint pain
• Nausea
• Fever (temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or above)

Rare side effects after the COVID-19 vaccines

AstraZeneca vaccine

After the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, more than 1 in 1000 people may experience:

• Reduced appetite
• Dizziness
• Sleepiness
• Sweating
• Swollen lymph glands
• Rash

Moderna Vaccine

After the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, more than 1 in 10,000 people may develop:

• Bell’s palsy
• Swelling of their face – this can happen in people who have had facial fillers

Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine

After the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, more than 1 in 1000 people may develop:

• Itchiness where the vaccine was given
• Swelling of their lymph glands
• Sleeplessness

More than 1 in 10,000 may develop Bell’s palsy.

Serious side effects after COVID-19 vaccines

Serious side effects, like severe allergic reaction, are extremely rare.

The prevalence of serious side effects after each of the vaccines are:

• AstraZeneca, approximately 1 in 100,000 people
• Moderna, approximately 1 in a million people
• Pfizer/BioNTech, approximately 1 in 100,000 people

The COVID-19 vaccines have gone through the same clinical trials and safety checks as all other licensed vaccines. But these vaccines are new and long-term side effect information is limited. As more people in Ireland and around the world get vaccinated more information on side effects may become available. The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) continue to monitor the safety of vaccines as they are rolled out. Updates to the side effects information will be provided as new information becomes available.

We still do not have a timeframe for when people with CF will be vaccinated. This will be dependent on the supply and availability of the vaccine. CFI will continue to provide updates on this as they become available.

There are no COVID-19 vaccines currently approved for use in children or adolescents under the age of 16. It is common practise to assess the safety and efficacy of vaccines in adults before trialling or authorising the use of vaccines in children. While some of the clinical trials did start to include children from the age of 12 upwards, there is not yet sufficient data to authorise the use in these groups. A research study assessing whether the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine produces a strong immune response in children aged 6-17 has just begun in the UK. Research is ongoing and it is likely that children and adolescents will have access to a vaccine in the coming year.

At the moment there is no specific information available on the delivery of the vaccine to people living with CF. CFI will provide updates as information becomes available.

Once available, the vaccine will be provided for free. There is no charge for getting the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccines are not available privately.

People with underlying respiratory conditions have been included in some clinical trials for the vaccines. People with CF were among those in the trial for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, numbers were too small to draw any conclusions as of yet. Internationally, many people with CF have already received a vaccine for COVID-19. Further information on this will be available in time.

Cystic Fibrosis Ireland have written to Minister Stephen Donnelly and called on the government to ensure that people with cystic fibrosis are given greater priority for COVID-19 vaccination, especially those with severe forms of the disease and those who have had a double lung transplant. We have also supported a submission from IPPOSI to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability focussing on improved vaccination prioritisation for the medically vulnerable and those with chronic illnesses.

We will continue to advocate for swift access to a vaccine for our members, their carers and family.