Myths Surrounding the Corona Virus Vaccine: Is it safe?

[Click on the links throughout for direct access to sources and more information.]

 

By: NIAID

COVID-19, or the corona virus, and it’s newly distributed vaccine have taken over news media outlets everywhere. The public has voiced its concerns on many news platforms regarding the vaccine’s safety. These concerns have included the new technology that was used to create it and the speed in which it was produced. Much of the public is turning to the media to state that they will not be getting the vaccine for those reasons.

Are the public’s concerns valid?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) say otherwise. Measures to ensure the safety in the production of the vaccine were not compromised. If anything, they were more strict with their regulations and standards. These are some ways the CDC and FDA are ensuring safety:

  • Results from clinical trials were reviewed by a third-party committee
  • Existing safety monitoring systems throughout the process were expanded upon
  • Real-time monitoring systems were put into place to quickly catch any negative effects, which so far, after millions have been vaccinated — none have been reported.

“But don’t vaccines take years to develop?”

It is true that vaccines can typically take up to 6 years to research and manufacture from start to finish. However, this pandemic did not allow for a typical timeline. The collaboration with the U.S. government allowed for the acceleration of the vaccine process (Operation Warp Speed) in several key ways. 

  • The government took all the financial risk, paying to manufacture the most promising vaccines while clinical trials were still in process. 
  • Given the number of those effected by corona virus, there was a large pool of candidates readily available for trials. 
  • With assistance from the Department of Defense, planning for large scale distribution had begun long before the vaccine was approved, which does not normally happen. 
  • Manufacturers used vaccine technology that has already been researched for decades. It is only considered “new” to the general public.

By: Department of Defense

Messenger RNA Vaccines  

By: NIAID This is a model of the corona virus cell. The orange triangle shaped pieces sticking out are called “spike proteins.”

Rumors have also surfaced across social media platforms that the vaccine will alter DNA. This is due to the new vaccine technology that utilizes Messenger RNA, or mRNA, to introduce the human body’s immune cells to the spike protein of the virus (see picture, right). This allows for recognition of the virus by the body’s immune system in order to better fight against it.

“What is mRNA anyway?“

By: adrigu This is a depiction of the human cell

Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a type of genetic material. The public has assumed this means that it can alter genes, or DNA. However, DNA is found in the nucleus of cells (the middle purple portion). mRNA never enters the nucleus. It gets read by the part of a cell called a ribosome, which is located outside of the nucleus (little red dots on the outer edges). 

What to Expect After Vaccination

The public has been advised that the vaccine can trigger certain symptoms, which has also sparked some skepticism and hesitation toward receiving the vaccine. Symptoms include:

  • mild fever
  • chills
  • sweating
  • fatigue
  • body aches

These symptoms are normal immune system responses and shows that the vaccine is doing its job. The CDC recommends talking to your doctor about taking over-the-counter medication to lessen symptoms such as ibuprofen or Tylenol. They also recommend drinking plenty of fluids.

Rarely, people have experienced severe allergic reactions to the vaccine. Luckily, we have medicine that can treat an allergic reaction, which is readily available on site. Once the vaccine is administered, you are monitored for 15 minutes if you have no known allergies or 30 minutes with known allergies, to ensure your safety. Follow this link for CDC recommendations on COVID-19 vaccination if you have concerns regarding allergic reactions.

So . . . should you get it?

Ultimately, it is up to you to decide if getting the vaccine is right for you. This information has been provided to debunk the common myths surrounding the corona virus vaccine that is circulating media platforms.

Despite general public opinion:

  1. Extensive safety measures were put into place throughout development and distribution.
  2. Messenger RNA technology for vaccines has been around for some time. It is not a new under-researched method.
  3. The vaccine was developed quicker than normal due to backing by the government and availability of large clinical trials that normally take years to gather. The speed of development and distribution was not by taking short-cuts that compromised safety.

Follow up with your doctor if you would like to get the vaccine and still have concerns.

References

ABC7 News Bay Area. (2020, Aug. 12). Californians explain why they won’t be taking a COVID-19 vaccine when it comes out.  [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsGKPRxzBy8

Al Jazeera English. (2020, Aug. 14). COVID-19 vaccine: Safety concerns as countries rush for a cure. [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgu-v2WTHh4

CBS This Morning. (2020, Oct. 26). Americans share concerns over safety and side effects of COVID-19 vaccine.  [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J986xOdL0Hs

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, Dec. 18). Understanding mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC 24/7: Saves Lives, Protecting People. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mrna.html.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, Jan. 28). Ensuring the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC 24/7: Savings Lives, Protecting People. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety.html.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, Feb. 3). Myths and facts about COVID-19 vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC 24/7: Saves Lives, Protecting People. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, Feb. 17). What to expect after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC 24/7: Saves Lives, Protecting People. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019ncov/vaccines/expect/ after.html

U.S. Department of Defense (2021). Operation warp speed: Accelerated vaccine process. Coronavirus: Operation Warp Speed. https://media.defense.gov/2020/Aug/13/2002476369/-1/-1/0/200813-D-ZZ999-100.JPG.