The New Normal: How long does the protection from COVID-19 vaccines last?

News 12's Elizabeth Hashagen was joined this morning by Dr. Sharon Nachman to discuss clinical COVID-19 vaccine trials for children.

News 12 Staff

Jun 29, 2021, 1:57 PM

Updated 1,262 days ago

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News 12's Elizabeth Hashagen was joined this morning by Dr. Sharon Nachman to discuss clinical COVID-19 vaccine trials for children.
How long does the protection from vaccines last? A new study suggests that, unlike vaccines for the flu that need a yearly booster, the two-dose Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine should keep an immune response up for years.
It takes five weeks to be fully vaccinated with Pfizer's vaccine, the only one authorized for adolescents ages 12 to 17. Pfizer's vaccine is given in two doses spaced three weeks apart. After the second dose, it takes two weeks until someone is considered fully vaccinated.
If parents have questions about vaccines, now is the time to get answers. Dr. Nachman answers some, including side effects:
We know a record number of people are expected to travel for the Fourth of July holiday this weekend. AAA forecasts 43 million Americans will hit the roads over the holiday, 5% more than the volume the organization saw in 2019. What precautions should travelers take?