Frequently asked COVID-19 vaccine questions for employers
Here are the most common questions about the COVID-19 vaccine we've received from policyholders.
For the safety and health of the entire community, vaccination is the best tool we have to end the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon. Along with wearing masks, staying physically distant, washing our hands, and avoiding large indoor gatherings, we can help reduce the spread of the virus.
Employers can help by encouraging and supporting employees to get the vaccine. For example, they may provide safety and efficacy information, assist with costs when possible, or direct them to trusted information from the Oregon Health Authority and the CDC.
Vaccines already in use include the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which are messenger RNA vaccines (mRNA). mRNA vaccines give our cells instructions to make a harmless protein that is unique to the virus. Our bodies recognize the protein should not be there and build T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight the virus that causes COVID-19. See the CDC for more information on how mRNA vaccines work.
Vaccines approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) require rigorous safety testing before approval. Both vaccines require two doses. The Moderna vaccine is 94% effective two weeks after receiving the second shot, and the Pfizer vaccine is 95% effective one week after the second shot.
See the Oregon Health Authority COVID-19 vaccination website for more information.
Read our list of the most common questions we've received from policyholders here. We'll be adding to this list throughout the pandemic, as we learn more.