Many people are unsure about getting a COVID-19 vaccine for a variety of reasons. Myths spread like wild-fire across social networking sites. We’re going to bust these myths and explain the facts about COVID-19 vaccines with help from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also known as the CDC.
1. Myth: The ingredients in COVID-19 vaccines are dangerous.
Fact: Nearly all the ingredients in COVID-19 vaccines are also ingredients in many foods – fats, sugars, and salts.
While the ingredients vary by the manufacturer, both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines contain mRNA, which gives instructions to the body to produce an immune response. Even though the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine does not contain mRNA, it contains a harmless version of a virus unrelated to the virus that causes COVID-19, which also elicits an immune response. The response keeps you protected from getting sick with COVID-19 in the future. The CDC stresses that, “COVID-19 vaccines do NOT contain ingredients like preservatives, tissues (like aborted fetal cells), antibiotics, food proteins, medicines, latex, or metals” (“Myths…”). Check out the graphic below from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on the ingredients of the COVID-19 vaccines..
2. Myth: The natural immunity I get from being sick with COVID-19 is better than the immunity I get from COVID-19 vaccination.
Fact: Getting a COVID-19 vaccination is a safer and more dependable way to build immunity to COVID-19 than getting sick with COVID-19.
While getting COVID-19 can give you “natural immunity”, there is no way to predict how much immunity you receive from contracting COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccine is a safer and more predictable way to get the COVID-19 antibodies while not actually getting you sick. According to the CDC, there is evidence “that, for people who already had COVID-19, those who do not get vaccinated after their recovery are more than 2 times as likely to get COVID-19 again than those who get fully vaccinated after their recovery” (“Myths…”). Getting vaccinated can also protect others from getting sick, especially those who may be more susceptible to getting sick, such as those who are immunocompromised.. The COVID-19 vaccine actually boosts your protection from getting the virus and protects others.
3. Myth: COVID-19 vaccines cause variants.
Fact: COVID-19 vaccines do not create or cause variants of the virus that causes COVID-19. Instead, COVID-19 vaccines can help prevent new variants from emerging.
New variants come from the spread of the virus. Getting immunized against COVID-19 actually reduces the spread of new variants as our bodies attack the virus and don’t allow it to mutate. The COVID-19 vaccine is a good way to protect yourself from the different variants.
4. Myth: COVID-19 vaccines contain microchips.
Fact: COVID-19 vaccines do not contain microchips. Vaccines are developed to fight against disease and are not administered to track your movement.
No one is tracking your movement. No one is microchipping you. Vaccines are developed to keep you healthy. They do not contain microchips.
5. Myth: A COVID-19 vaccine can make me sick with COVID-19.
Fact: Because none of the authorized COVID-19 vaccines in the United States contain the live virus that causes COVID-19, the vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.
The COVID-19 vaccine does not make you sick. You may experience side effects after getting the vaccine, but you have not actually contracted the COVID-19 virus. The CDC states, “COVID-19 vaccines teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Sometimes this process can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are normal and are signs that the body is building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19” (“Myths…”). Vaccines give us the ability to fight against the virus without actually getting the virus. While it may come with some uncomfortable side effects, the vaccine could protect you from getting a severe case of COVID-19.
Now that you have the facts, it’s time to figure out where to get your COVID-19 vaccine. Chesapeake Regional Rx currently administers COVID-19 vaccinations for individuals 5 years and older. Schedule yours today at: https://chesapeakeregionalrx.com or by calling us at 302-313-1088.
References
“Myths and Facts about Covid-19 Vaccines.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15 Dec. 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html.
NYC healthy [@NYChealthy]. “Not sure what’s in the #COVID19 vaccine? In addition to the messenger (such as mRNA or the modified adenovirus), the vaccines contain ingredients like lipids, salts, sugar and certain acids to help it work inside your body. View all of of ingredients: https://on.nyc.gov/vaccinefacts ” . Twitter, 28 September 2021, https://twitter.com/nychealthy/status/1435644109239238662.