For some, the decision is an easy yes or no. For others, they are trying to learn more and determine whether or not getting vaccinated is right for them. When it is my turn, I will be getting the vaccine.
First, I am on a fact-finding mission to find out what I can about the vaccine. I did not make this decision without factoring in all points of view. I have cited reputable scientific and medical sources. Being that I am not a medical professional, I did not use any scientific medical papers due to the potential misinterpretation. I have even considered some conspiracy theories to see if there is any validity in the claims. I am working on disproving or proving them with evidence from the scientific and medical community.
This is important because there are so many doom posts about the COVID-19 vaccine. There are some people who are taking legitimate concerns over the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine and generating unnecessary fear through manufactured misinformation. Please consider this as you are scrolling through social media and visiting sites online.
Ultimately, it is up to you to decide whether or not you want to get the vaccine. Do your research by using reputable sources and talk to your doctor about any concerns or questions about the vaccine.
Here are the things I am looking for in my decision to get vaccinated:
- Is it safe?
- Is it effective?
- What are the short-term and long-term side effects?
- How does it work? (I am a nerd and curious!)
Some of the findings I have found during my research:
The science behind the new COVID-19 vaccine has been around for decades. According to Harvard University, about 30 years ago scientists were trying to figure out whether or not vaccines could be made more simply through mRNA technology. Scientists were able to test the COVID-19 vaccine in animals weeks after China released the genetic sequence of the virus.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/S8Wd-NMqvno”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Many people are understandably concerned about the COVID-19 vaccine because it made through the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) review process more quickly than a traditional vaccine. This does not make it less safe, and according to health officials, none of the steps were skipped during the trials in order to get the vaccine out quickly.
It will likely protect me against COVID-19. This is the end goal of getting the vaccine. Why get the vaccine if it will not offer protection against the virus it was designed to protect you against. With both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines having a greater than 90% effective rate (slightly less with the Delta variant), you are more likely than not to have protection against the virus if you get vaccinated. Being that there is not a 100% effective rate, there is a slight chance, even with vaccination that you can still get COVID-19.
Data analyzed by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that majority of the states reporting breakthrough infections had significantly fewer cases from those that are vaccinated than unvaccinated.
The following chart shows the percentage of cases each reporting state has by vaccination status. Note that not all states are providing case data by vaccination status.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]COVID-19 has higher unknown risks. I am a relatively healthy young male that will most likely not have serious complications from COVID-19. With that said, no one knows their true outcome with the disease. Some healthy individuals have died from COVID-19. Others, about 10% of COVID-19 cases, have reported long-term effects. The virus is too new for scientists and doctors to know whether these symptoms will go away in time or be permanent. Scientists also do not know the long-term effects that the virus has on your body.
Experts are finding that even people with mild COVID-19 infections are at risk for long-term effects from the virus. According to the Mayo Clinic, in addition to the continuation of COVID-19 symptoms (shortness of breath, fatigue, cough, joint pain, loss of taste/smell, etc.), people may experience lung, heart, and brain damage.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXD4pLrmLHY&t=14s”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]While there are potential side effects from the vaccine, there are also possible effects of COVID or experimental drugs used to treat more severe cases. Either way, you are taking a gamble. Personally, I would rather play offense with a vaccine that has been proven to be safe through clinical trials, oversight reviews, and millions of people getting the vaccine.
There is also a misconception about comparing COVID-19’s survival rate to vaccine effectiveness. First, we do not know the exact fatality rate of COVID-19. We only know the fatality rate of those who have confirmed cases of COVID-19. The actual number of confirmed cases, deaths, and recoveries is likely higher than what is currently known. Second, you are comparing two unrelated measures to one another. The survival rate is based on the number of people who have survived COVID-19 after contracting the virus. The vaccine effectiveness rate is the likelihood that you will not catch the virus. A more accurate way of comparing your risk of getting the virus with or without the vaccine.
Severe side effects from vaccines are rare. With any medical procedure, there are potential risks. Life, in general, has risks. You can have a medical emergency during a basic medical procedure. Side effects are typically mild and include soreness at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, and sometimes a fever. The side effects may last a day or two and were more frequent after the second dose.
I had mild side effects after getting both shots earlier this year. I was able to go about my day, run errands, and the side effects subsided a day after getting both shots. To put it in perspective, I had worse and longer side effects from the tetanus booster than the COVID-19 vaccine.
We also have to be careful looking at isolated incidents of severe reactions to COVID vaccinations — especially when we do not have a lot of data. Focusing on individual incidents when the vast majority of incidents have no or limited side effects can skew the data or perception. This does not mean we should dismiss any serious side effects but it is important to keep them in perspective out of the total vaccinations and reactions.
Vigorous oversight for side effects from the vaccine. Countries all over the world are reviewing or have reviewed data from clinical trials regarding the vaccines. Some states in the United States are also having another review board go over the findings as an extra layer of safety. This is designed to ensure the vaccine is safe but also to build confidence that the vaccine is not being rushed out without proper safety checks and approvals. This is standard procedure for all vaccine approvals, not just the COVID-19 vaccine.
Furthermore, anyone who is receiving the vaccine is being monitored for potential reactions and side effects. Also, consider that the vaccine is new it is under increased scrutiny from governments, vaccine manufacturers, and health officials all over the world.
In the United States, health providers are required to report side effects to various governmental agencies including the CDC and FDA. This will help ensure that the vaccine is safe and alerts medical professionals and vaccine manufacturers if changes are needed to how the vaccine is distributed. Some of this data is available to the public, but it cannot be used as a definitive determination that a suspected side effect was caused by a vaccine. Once a side effect is reported, officials then investigate to determine potential causes of the symptoms and whether the vaccine was the culprit.
The CDC also has an app you can download to report any reactions, side effects, and follow up with your second dose of the vaccine. Technology like mobile apps has played an important role during the pandemic from testing, contact tracing, and now vaccination.
Side effects from vaccines usually present themselves early. With the vigorous oversight on the vaccine through its review process and injection, monitoring will be aware of side effects very quickly. Typically, medical experts found that significant side effects from vaccines happen within 2 months. It is not that it is not possible for side effects to happen after, it is less likely.
With thousands already vaccinated, some during the trial vaccine trial periods, most of the reactions and side effects happened relatively soon after people received the vaccination.
Even though I was one of the last groups to receive the vaccine, I still think the benefits of getting vaccinated outweigh the risks. There is no evidence that COVID-19 affects fertility, makes people sterile, changes your DNA, or turns people into robots.
I urge everyone to do their own research and come to their own conclusions. The research and facts are out there! As always, talk to those in the medical community who are experts in both disease and vaccines.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Joe Gullo