[upbeat music] [narration] You are probably hearing a
lot of information about COVID-19 vaccines right now. We wanted to answer some common questions
about how COVID-19 vaccines have been made. How are COVID-19 vaccines made faster?
Usually, testing a vaccine to make sure it is safe and works is done before large amounts
of vaccines are made. Because of the pandemic and money from the federal government, scientists did
both at the same time. Only vaccines that have been tested and are shown to be safe are used.
How are COVID-19 vaccines tested?
All COVID-19 vaccines go through tests called clinical trials. Each vaccine goes through more
than one test. First, the vaccine is tested with a small group of volunteers, then a couple hundred,
then tens of thousands of people. Volunteers for COVID-19 vaccine trials come from many
diverse communities and backgrounds. This is the same process used for testing other vaccines.
How do COVID-19 vaccines get approved? For the vaccines that make it past
all the tests, a team of medical experts will look at test results
and how people felt after they got the vaccine. If the vaccine works and it’s safe, it gets approved.
There are many groups of scientists and experts that are reviewing the vaccine safety data
for COVID-19 vaccines and making recommendations. Only approved vaccines are given to people.
Who is getting vaccine first? A national advisory group for
CDC looked at the data and made recommendations for who should get the vaccine first. Some groups
that are at highest risk for COVID-19 or could get very sick from COVID-19 got the vaccine first.
Minnesota has a team of experts who will help make sure vaccine is available to everyone fairly,
with a focus on health equity. As more vaccine becomes available over time,
more people will be vaccinated. For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine
visit the health department’s website. [upbeat music]