Delaware Doctors Answer Most Commonly Asked Questions about the Pfizer Vaccine as Vaccinations Begin |

...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT... * WHAT...Up to one foot of inundation above ground level expected in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways. * WHERE...In Delaware, Kent, Inland Sussex and Delaware Beaches. In New Jersey, Cumberland, Atlantic, Cape May and Atlantic Coastal Cape May. * WHEN...Until midnight EDT tonight. * IMPACTS...At this level, flooding begins on the most vulnerable roads in coastal and bayside communities, and along inland tidal waterways. Some partial or full road closures are possible. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Another round of minor coastal flooding is likely with the high tide Sunday evening. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Coastal Flood Advisory means that minor tidal flooding is expected. Minor tidal flooding often results in some road closures. Usually, the most vulnerable roadways will flood. Do not leave your vehicle at a location that is prone to tidal flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flood waters. The water may be deeper than you think it is. You will be putting yourself in danger and your vehicle may be damaged, leading to costly repairs. Visit the National Water Prediction Service at https://water.noaa.gov/wfo/phi for additional water level and flood impact information for your local tide gauge. && Time of high total tides are approximate to the nearest hour. Murderkill River at Bowers Beach MLLW Categories - Minor 6.6 ft, Moderate 7.6 ft, Major 8.6 ft MHHW Categories - Minor 0.9 ft, Moderate 1.9 ft, Major 2.9 ft Total Total Departure Day/Time Tide Tide from Norm Flood ft MLLW ft MHHW ft Impact -------- --------- --------- --------- -------- 13/09 PM 7.4 1.7 0.6 Minor 14/09 AM 5.3 -0.4 0.5 None 14/10 PM 7.5 1.8 0.5 Minor 15/10 AM 5.3 -0.4 0.5 None 15/10 PM 7.4 1.7 0.4 Minor 16/11 AM 5.3 -0.4 0.4 None Delaware Bay at Lewes MLLW Categories - Minor 6.0 ft, Moderate 7.0 ft, Major 8.0 ft MHHW Categories - Minor 1.3 ft, Moderate 2.3 ft, Major 3.3 ft Total Total Departure Day/Time Tide Tide from Norm Flood ft MLLW ft MHHW ft Impact -------- --------- --------- --------- -------- 13/08 PM 6.3 1.7 0.9 Minor 14/08 AM 4.7 0.0 0.9 None 14/09 PM 6.6 2.0 1.0 Minor 15/09 AM 4.5 -0.2 0.7 None 15/10 PM 6.5 1.8 0.9 Minor 16/10 AM 4.8 0.2 0.9 None Maurice River at Bivalve MLLW Categories - Minor 7.6 ft, Moderate 8.6 ft, Major 9.6 ft MHHW Categories - Minor 1.3 ft, Moderate 2.3 ft, Major 3.3 ft Total Total Departure Day/Time Tide Tide from Norm Flood ft MLLW ft MHHW ft Impact -------- --------- --------- --------- -------- 13/08 PM 8.0 1.7 1.0 Minor 14/09 AM 6.3 0.0 0.9 None 14/09 PM 8.1 1.8 1.0 Minor 15/10 AM 6.0 -0.3 0.6 None 15/10 PM 8.3 2.0 1.1 Minor 16/11 AM 6.4 0.1 0.9 None Atlantic Ocean at Atlantic City MLLW Categories - Minor 6.0 ft, Moderate 7.0 ft, Major 8.0 ft MHHW Categories - Minor 1.4 ft, Moderate 2.4 ft, Major 3.4 ft Total Total Departure Day/Time Tide Tide from Norm Flood ft MLLW ft MHHW ft Impact -------- --------- --------- --------- -------- 13/07 PM 6.2 1.6 0.8 Minor 14/07 AM 4.9 0.3 1.0 None 14/07 PM 6.5 1.9 1.0 Minor 15/08 AM 4.8 0.2 0.8 None 15/08 PM 6.4 1.8 0.8 Minor 16/09 AM 5.0 0.4 0.9 None Great Egg Harbor Bay at Ocean City MLLW Categories - Minor 5.3 ft, Moderate 6.3 ft, Major 7.3 ft MHHW Categories - Minor 1.3 ft, Moderate 2.3 ft, Major 3.3 ft Total Total Departure Day/Time Tide Tide from Norm Flood ft MLLW ft MHHW ft Impact -------- --------- --------- --------- -------- 13/08 PM 5.4 1.4 0.5 Minor 14/08 AM 3.9 -0.1 0.5 None 14/08 PM 5.5 1.5 0.6 Minor 15/08 AM 3.8 -0.2 0.5 None 15/09 PM 5.6 1.6 0.4 Minor 16/09 AM 3.8 -0.2 0.5 None Cape May Harbor at Cape May MLLW Categories - Minor 6.2 ft, Moderate 7.2 ft, Major 8.2 ft MHHW Categories - Minor 1.1 ft, Moderate 2.1 ft, Major 3.1 ft Total Total Departure Day/Time Tide Tide from Norm Flood ft MLLW ft MHHW ft Impact -------- --------- --------- --------- -------- 13/07 PM 6.8 1.7 0.8 Minor 14/08 AM 5.0 -0.1 0.7 None 14/08 PM 7.0 1.9 0.8 Minor 15/09 AM 4.8 -0.3 0.4 None 15/09 PM 6.9 1.8 0.6 Minor 16/10 AM 5.1 0.0 0.6 None &&

DELAWARE - The first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Delaware was given on Tuesday. A progressive care unit nurse at Bayhealth Dover, Elisabeth Cote, was vaccinated 24 hours after the vaccine arrived at the hospital.

Beebe Healthcare could begin vaccinating as soon as Wednesday afternoon.

There has been a lot of concerns about the vaccine, but the state says Pfizer has done rigorous testing through three clinical trials. Healthcare workers say the vaccine offers hope.

Dr. Kelly Abbrescia, emergency medicine specialist at Bayhealth Hospital, also got the shot Tuesday morning.

"I would not have gotten the vaccine if I didn't think it was completely safe and completely appropriate. I feel very strongly about that,” said Dr. Abbrescia.

Doctors from Beebe and Bayhealth answered some commonly asked questions about the Pfizer vaccine.

How does the vaccine work?

"A lot of vaccines use live virus, or attenuated killed virus, this doesn't even do that. It just uses that spike protein, we've all seen the little COVID ball. It just uses that spike protein and teaches your body to fight the virus," said Dr. Abbrescia.

Some people may experience side effects like arm soreness, headaches, fatigue and fever.

"The job of the vaccine is to boost your immune system, and that boosting of your immune system can sometimes make you feel crummy, or give you those things,” said Dr. Bill Chasanov, Beebe Healthcare’s infectious disease doctor and COVID-19 Response Medical Director.

What are the severe side effects? What about allergic reactions like those in the United Kingdom?

"They're looking further into that and it appears those individuals have an issue of having a severe allergic reaction to something else. So beyond that it doesn't appear that is very common and still is a quite rare complication or side effect, but does appear the two individuals may be linked to the vaccine,” said Dr. Chasanov.

He says any severe side effects are being monitored and reported.

Dr. Chasanov added, "Some of the news and media state there have been a few cases reported of Bells Palsy after receiving the vaccine. But those numbers are so low that at this point they're not really causal. Meaning we cannot link the vaccine to Bells Palsy.”

How long will immunity last?

"It's one of the million dollar questions, because is this vaccine going to be something we're going to need to get yearly? Is this vaccine once and done? Or is this vaccine something we'll need to be booster-ed for every so often ... So I do not believe anyone has the answer to that because the vaccine hasn't been out long enough to answer those questions,” he said.

Dr. Chasanov says returning to some kind of normal all depends on the number of people who get vaccinated.

"80 percent of the population will need to have some type of immunity in order to provide the protection for many of us in what we call the "herd,” said Dr. Chasanov.

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Delaware Doctors Answer Most Commonly Asked Questions about the Pfizer Vaccine as Vaccinations Begin

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