According to the Wis. Department of Health Services:
No safety steps were skipped during the development of COVID-19 vaccines. A number of factors allowed safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines to be available quickly:
- Earlier research on other coronaviruses (SARS and MERS) jump started the COVID-19 vaccine development process. SARS was first detected in 2002, while MERS was first detected in 2012, and both have been researched ever since.
- Through ground-breaking partnerships between leading medical experts, scientists were able to build on lessons learned from past pandemics (Zika, Ebola, H1N1) to make the COVID-19 vaccines.
- Medical experts and other key players all dedicated their time, effort, and resources to developing COVID-19 vaccines.
- Issuing an EUA shortened the official process, but did not skip any safety steps. For example, the FDA invited more experts to review than usual. With all hands on deck, the review process was shortened from months to weeks. The EUA allowed faster public access to vaccines.
The FDA approves a vaccine for use only if it is proven safe and effective, after clinical trials have been conducted with thousands of people, and when its benefits outweigh any risks. The COVID-19 vaccine builds on years of scientific research and an unprecedented level of scientific investment and cooperation. Every study and every phase of every trial was carefully reviewed and approved by a safety board and the FDA. The process was transparent and rigorous throughout, with continual oversight and expert approval.
The identification of what is approximately a less than two-in-a-million risk of blood clotting disorder associated with the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is a sign that the nation's safety monitoring system for COVID-19 vaccines is working. After any vaccine is successful in clinical trials and it is authorized for use, the FDA continues to monitor it for safety. The pause in the use of the J and J vaccine allowed scientists to evaluate each incident of the clotting disorder. They determined that the level of risk was very low and that the benefits of continued use of the J and J vaccine greatly outweigh any risk associated with it.
The likelihood of a meidally significant reaction is extremely low. Temporary side effects like soreness, headaches, or a mild fever are signs that the body is responding and building an immunity to the virus. They typically go away in a day or two. source