Pfizer vaccine: difference between emergency use authorization and final approval

Submitted by Marcos Javier Ramos-Benítez on 27 August 2021 - 12:54pm

Last Monday, the Pfizer - BioNTech vaccine received final approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is important to clarify that this approval does not mean that the vaccine was experimental until last Sunday. The experimental phase of this vaccine culminated with clinical trials in November 2020. During this experimental phase the company, in this case Pfizer, gathered the necessary evidence to determine that the vaccine is safe and over 90% effective in protecting against COVID-19 . Although its effectiveness has decreased somewhat with the appearance of the delta variant, the vaccine is still the best weapon to protect us from serious illness, hospitalization, or death from COVID-19.

Experts tracked and addressed COVID-19 rumors and misinformation in Puerto Rico

Submitted by Mónica Ivelisse Feliú-Mójer on 6 August 2021 - 8:04pm

Mercy Corps Puerto Rico, together with Puerto Rico Public Health Trust (PRPHT), Ciencia Puerto Rico (CienciaPR), Ciencia en Tus Manos (CETM) and Internews developed a Rumor Tracking Program "Infórmate, Protégete, Vacunate" on news related to vaccines and COVID-19 in Puerto Rico. The effort ran from March to June and collected more than 1,000 rumors that were categorized by risk levels (high, medium and low). Much of the misinformation and rumors collected revolved around the safety of the coronavirus vaccine.

Let's talk about the Delta variant

Submitted by Mónica Ivelisse Feliú-Mójer on 2 August 2021 - 12:26pm

The arrival of the Delta variant has changed the landscape of the pandemic. Before we get into the details, the good news: vaccines work and protect us from serious consequences, hospitalization and death if we get the Delta variant (and the other variants) and it gives us COVID-19. The prevention measures that we already know also work to protect us from Delta and the other variants.

You can read the full story in the Spanish version of this post.

CienciaPR launches a new educational campaign to promote vaccination against COVID-19

Submitted by Mónica Ivelisse Feliú-Mójer on 26 April 2021 - 1:14am

To inspire confidence in COVID-19 vaccines and promote vaccination as an act of solidarity, the non-profit organization Ciencia Puerto Rico (CienciaPR) has just launched the second public service campaign of the "Aquí Nos Cuidamos Toolkit" under the theme, "Vacúnate, por ti y por mí" (Get vaccinated, for you and for me). This effort coincides with the World Immunization Week declared by the World Health Organization and celebrated from April 25 to May 1 this year.