Scientists and pharmaceutical companies have been in a race to develop an effective vaccine against COVID-19. Pfizer’s vaccine became the first to receive Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in mid-December. Emergency approval for the Moderna vaccine happened soon after and now both vaccines are shipping to all 50 states in some capacity. 

The first groups to get the vaccine will include workers in high-risk health care settings, high-risk first responders, and residents and staff of nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Other groups will be added as we get more doses. 

These vaccines have been developed on a much faster timetable than most vaccines. That's led to some people wondering about their safety. 

In the video below, Michael Myint, MD, infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist at MultiCare, talks more about the COVID-19 vaccines, their safety and his plans to receive a vaccine as soon as he is eligible.

You can learn about vaccine safety from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and learn more about the Western States Pact and Scientific Safety Review Workgroup from the Washington State Department of Health.