Quiet down anti-vaxxers, the COVID-19 vaccine is perfectly safe
Over 107,000 Montgomery County residents have received their first vaccine dose and approximately 34,000 residents have been fully vaccinated.
February 3, 2021
As the COVID-19 virus continues to encroach on and disturb people’s lives, many look fervently to the recent vaccines as the only means to save them and return the world to a state of normalcy. Despite the abundance of misinformation on vaccinations, research has repeatedly proven that vaccines are safe, and the COVID-19 vaccines are no different. With multiple pharmaceutical companies already having conducted trials and distributing their vaccines, arguments against inoculation hold no weight.
At the moment, two vaccines have been authorized in the United States, the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, with AstraZeneca’s being distributed in other parts of the world. A common misconception about these vaccines, reinforced by the poorly named Operation Warp Speed (OWS), is that they have not been thoroughly tested. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, OWS helped speed up the development and distribution of vaccines by providing government support in their production. Focusing on safety and effectiveness throughout the process, OWS cut no corners.
Science teacher Eleanor Parks said, “The most that I do know about it is that all the protocols were followed, they were just expedited. So I am confident in the science behind the vaccines, that they did go through all the necessary trials and protocols.” As more people have the opportunity to get the vaccine, misinformation about it must not spread, so people are not hesitant to receive it.
Over the past year, many infectious disease experts have discussed the need for herd immunity against COVID-19, which is when enough of a population is immune to an infectious disease that it can no longer spread. According to The Atlantic, to achieve herd immunity roughly two-thirds of the population would need to be vaccinated. A poll conducted by Pew Research Center in November 2020 reported 60 percent of Americans would definitely or probably get a vaccine for COVID-19 if one was available today, up from the 51 percent in September 2020. Americans are becoming more willing to get the vaccine as more information is available, and eventually, there will be a sufficient amount to achieve herd immunity in the country.
While any COVID-19 vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration is safe, there are still side-effects to consider. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), some common side effects are swelling, fever, chills, headache and tiredness. However, these are common in other established vaccines, such as the flu vaccine. They are signs the body is building protection and they go away within a few days.
Park said, “one of my biggest concerns is that people will say like ‘oh the vaccine is out I can stop socially distancing, I can stop wearing a mask.’ This isn’t going to be like an on-off switch […] it will take time for us to see the overall benefits of mass vaccinations.” While the availability of vaccines will be a relief, people must still take precautions of wearing masks and social distancing. Vaccines are a valuable tool in the fight against COVID-19, but they will only be effective if we can keep up our current social distancing measures.
The age-old argument against vaccinations, which is being applied to the COVID-19 one, is that the injections can cause autism in young children. Though, according to the CDC, there is no link between vaccines and autism. A 2011 analysis by the Institute of Medicine used peer-reviewed literature to review influenza, hepatitis A and B, HPV and meningococcal vaccines as well as those containing diphtheria-toxoid, tetanus toxoid and acellular pertussis found that “these vaccines are safe and that serious adverse events are quite rare.” Research has repeatedly proven that the benefits of vaccines outweigh the risks, many of which are exaggerated or entirely made up by the anti-vaxxer movement.
At the end of the day, the COVID-19 vaccines are everything people have been hoping for–the possibility of normalcy. However, the efficiency of a vaccine depends on individuals stepping up and volunteering for the safety of everyone. History has proven that the only way to fully move past viral crises is to vaccinate the population. If older generations inoculated themselves from polio and measles, we must do the same and move forward.
This is not a vaccine. It’s an experimental biological product. It doesn’t provide immunity nor does it keep people from spreading it to each other. Pfizer states this on its website. The injection contains mRNA which has not been used in humans. In animal studies, all animals who received inoculations containing mRNA died when they were exposed to coronavirus.
Here’s an important question that the author does not raise. Why are people being encouraged to take a rushed, untested injection when there are *existing* prophylactic medications for covid? Ivermectin or HCQ (in conjunction with azithromycin and vitamin supplements) are safe, effective and proven to treat and prevent covid. Watch Dr. Pierre Kory’s testimony during a Senate hearing. Dr. Kory is part of a group of researchers who have completed numerous studies and trials demonstrating the effectiveness of Ivermectin in particular. Additionally, Dr. Simone Gold is one of the doctors who have been speaking about HCQ and its benefits.
Everyone should know that none of the companies who are manufacturing these injections are legally liable for damages should a person have serious side effects or death resulting from the injection. This information is also on their websites. Does everyone know this? Are they told before receiving the shot? No.
Instead of telling “anti-vaxxers” to “quiet down”, Ms. Peck should be encouraging people to do their research so they can make informed decisions. Nothing has been proven about this experimental “vaccine” and people need to understand that fact.
Why are people that are concerned about this “vaccine” called anti-vaxxers? I’ve received plenty of vaccines, and worked as a traveling nurse administered hundreds, so I’m NOT anti-vax, just concerned about this “vaccine” because I have done my homework.
All in all I’ll wait for Johnson & Johnson. At least their vaccine is made the old fashion way. Tried and true. No mRNA lack of knowledge to worry about. Also I will be having my adult children receive J&J also. Don’t want to worry whether or not there is a fertility issue that is also written in literature for the mRNA shots.
If it’s so why it seem like people getting the first but not living to get the next one something is wrong but just keep telling uts ok I dont believe it is some body needs to look in to it before everybody dies.????????????