FAQ: COVID-19 Vaccine Information
Who gets the COVID-19 vaccine first at MIT?
MIT is following state and federal guidelines for determining who is eligible for vaccination. For MIT Medical, that means MIT Medical’s on-site healthcare workers who care for patients will be vaccinated first, followed by MIT public-safety personnel, such as MIT Police and MIT EMS. As stated in the letter to the community on January 6, MIT has already vaccinated many MIT Medical employees.
Please, do not contact your provider to request a vaccine. We will contact patients if and when vaccine is available. We will keep the community informed of any updates through our patient newsletter.
January 6, 2021
Besides healthcare workers and first responders, who else at MIT will be eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
We are not yet sure. We know that when we move into the next phase, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will allow us to provide vaccinations to eligible MIT Medical patients and students. Other members of the MIT community may be asked to attend vaccination clinics in their communities instead. We will notify the community if we are allowed to give vaccinations more widely.
If we are able to vaccinate community members, we will initially offer doses to patients who receive their health care at MIT Medical, and registered students, all of whom are considered patients of MIT Medical. We will prioritize higher-risk individuals within these groups.
As we learn more, we will keep you informed.
January 7, 2021
Does getting the vaccine mean we can stop wearing masks and will no longer need to socially distance?
No, even if you are vaccinated, you will need to continue taking precautions. You will need to wear a mask, stay six feet from others when you are outside your home, and wash your hands regularly. And if you work or study on campus, you will need to continue regular COVID-19 testing.
While clinical trials showed COVID-19 vaccines to be very effective in preventing symptomatic illness, we do not yet know the full extent of immunity a vaccine confers. We only know that the COVID-19 vaccine makes it less likely that you will develop symptoms of the disease if you are exposed. We do not know if it prevents asymptomatic infection, and we do not yet know if the vaccine will prevent you from transmitting COVID-19 to others.
January 6, 2021
How will I know if MIT Medical has a vaccine available for me?
We will contact you directly to let you know.
January 6, 2021
Will MIT provide the COVID-19 vaccine to all staff?
We still don’t know if we will be able to vaccinate the entire community (as we do with flu shots), or if we will only be able to vaccinate MIT Medical patients (which would include students). It is possible that community members be asked to attend vaccination clinics in their communities instead. We expect additional information from the Commonwealth as we move into future vaccination phases.
January 6, 2021
My healthcare provider can give me the COVID-19 vaccine. Should I get it now, or wait for MIT to administer it?
Don’t wait. We strongly encourage you to get the COVID-19 vaccination as soon as it is made available to you. There is no need to wait for MIT to administer the vaccine. If you are offered the vaccine, take it!
January 6, 2021
When I get the vaccine, will I be immune from COVID-19?
We don’t yet know the full extent of immunity the vaccine confers. Clinical trials showed both of the currently approved COVID-19 vaccines to be more than 90 percent effective in preventing symptomatic illness, but that’s all we know. While vaccinated individuals are less likely to develop symptoms of the illness, we do not yet know if the vaccine prevents asymptomatic infection or if it will prevent you from transmitting COVID-19 to others.
You will need two doses before the vaccine is fully effective. Even after two doses, you must continue to wear masks over your nose and mouth, physically distance from others, stay within your bubble, and take all other necessary precautions to prevent transmission of the disease.
January 6, 2021
Is the vaccine effective?
We believe it is. The data are promising, and both vaccines were approved for emergency use in the United States after rigorous study. In clinical trials, the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines demonstrated efficacy rates of 94.1 and 95 percent respectively. The efficacy rating represents the difference in confirmed cases of symptomatic COVID-19 illness in the vaccinated group versus in the group of individuals who received the placebo.
January 6, 2021
What are the side effects?
The most common side effects are pain, redness, and tenderness at the injection site. Other side effects may include fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, chills, nausea and vomiting, and fever. In extremely rare cases, people have experienced severe allergic reactions. Everyone who gets a vaccine is monitored for allergic reactions for at least 15 minutes afterwards. This is the same procedure we follow when an individual gets their first-ever flu vaccine. Before you get the vaccine, let the clinician know if you have any serious allergies.
January 6, 2021
I’m nervous about this new vaccine and the unknown risks. Shouldn’t I just wait six months or more to get it?
It’s not worth waiting. We strongly encourage you to get your vaccine as soon as it is offered to you. The technology behind this vaccine, mRNA, was developed at MIT, has earned the Nobel prize, and is well understood and established. The vaccine is safe and effective and a critical tool that can help us end the COVID-19 pandemic. The sooner we are all vaccinated, the sooner we will return to normal life. If you have concerns about the vaccine, discuss them with your healthcare provider.
January 6, 2021
How does MIT get doses of the vaccine?
The distribution of COVID-19 vaccines happens at the state level. It is up to the Commonwealth to allocate the vaccine to healthcare organizations. MIT Medical has no control over when we will get a shipment, how many doses will be in that shipment, or which manufacturer will make the vaccine we receive.
January 6, 2021
Which manufacturer’s vaccine will MIT receive?
We cannot choose which vaccine will be sent to MIT Medical.
January 6, 2021
Will I be able to choose which vaccine I receive?
No. Access to vaccines is very limited, and we cannot accommodate specific requests. If you are offered the vaccine, we encourage you to take it right away. There are no significant differences between the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in terms of effectiveness. There is no evidence supporting a preference for one over the other.
January 6, 2021
Is the vaccine required?
No. As of now, neither MIT nor the Commonwealth will require individuals to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
January 6, 2021
What if I am offered the vaccine by MIT, decline to take it, and then change my mind?
You will lose your place in line, but you will be eligible for future vaccination rounds. However, there’s no guarantee that the vaccine will be available when you want it. That’s why we encourage you to get it as soon as you are given the opportunity.
January 6, 2021
