Worried About COVID-19 Vaccine Reactions?
Here’s Why You Should Still Get Vaccinated
10 May 2021
After a year of struggles and social distancing, we finally have access to reliable vaccines to fight back against the COVID-19 pandemic. These vaccines are the key to helping us turn the tide, save lives, and get control over this dangerous virus.
Unfortunately, different myths and misinformation about these vaccines have been spreading around the country. Many people are becoming increasingly afraid of potential side effects and damage to their health from taking the vaccines.
This vaccine hesitancy is a big problem and will hamper the country’s efforts to reach herd immunity. At least 70-85% of the US population needs to be immunized in order for that to happen. Additionally, the longer people wait, the higher the likelihood that the virus can mutate into more deadly strains.
Worries About Taking the Second Shot
As Americans line up to take their first shot of either the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, many are concerned about getting the second one. They fear potential side effects and some are even skipping the second shot altogether.
Although most people will only have a sore arm, a smaller number of individuals will experience symptoms such as:
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Fever
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Nausea
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Fatigue
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Body aches
These are signs that the vaccine is working and causing a reaction within your immune system. Some people can have allergic reactions immediately after getting vaccinated, such as dizziness, swelling, an increased heart rate, or feeling weak. This is why vaccination centers ask people to wait 15 minutes after receiving their shots.
Fortunately, these symptoms subside after a few days at the most. Although you may be worried about them, these side effects are a great sign that your immune system is working well and protecting you by creating antibodies and T cells.
Concerns About Long Term Side Effects
Many people are worried that taking the COVID-19 vaccine will cause long-term health problems that scientists are currently unaware of. Fortunately, adverse side effects from vaccines almost always turn up within the first couple of months of administration.
In fact, the most concerning vaccine side effects in history have all been identified within six weeks. There might be some side effects that aren’t found quickly in clinical trials, but that is only because they are extremely rare, not because of time that has passed. Given how contagious the coronavirus is, the risk of taking the vaccine is much lower than that of any potential long-term side effect.
Rumors About Damage to Fertility
There are also many rumors about potential damage to a person’s fertility due to COVID-19 vaccines. Thankfully, there is no evidence at all that any vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccines, can cause problems with fertility. In fact, the benefits of getting vaccinated if you’re pregnant or trying to become pregnant greatly outweigh the risks.
This is because pregnancy puts women at a much higher risk for severe COVID-19 illness. There is also some research that getting vaccinated could provide some protection to newborn babies.
Getting Vaccinated Helps Those Around You
Conclusion
Unfortunately, choosing not to get vaccinated can negatively impact the health of your community. This is because vaccines are not 100% effective and coronavirus still has the ability to spread to friends and family. There are also many people that cannot get vaccinated and need herd immunity to get protected, including those with major illnesses.
If people continue to choose not to get vaccinated, the coronavirus strains will be more likely to mutate and make vaccines less effective. If we want to get out of this pandemic, it is imperative that more Americans trust COVID-19 vaccines so herd immunity becomes more of a reality.
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