FACTS: What You Need To Know About The COVId-19 Vaccine

It is normal to feel skeptical about getting the COVID-19 vaccine now that it is available in United States. We’ve seen several prominent people and some healthcare workers get their shots in public as a means to ease our minds. But if you still are not at ease and have questions lingering in your mind regarding the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine, we are here to provide you with factual information to help put your mind at ease and hopefully make it easier for you to make a decision regarding the vaccine.

There are so many information sources out there and we believe it is very important to get information from legitimate sources with accurate information to help you learn and make informed decisions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Our residents and care team have had questions regarding the vaccine and a great answer source for us has been the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC has published several articles on their website to provide the public with well-researched data and information on the COVID-19 vaccine.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine provided by The Centers of Disease Control and Protection (CDC).

1. Can a COVID-19 Vaccine make me sick with COVID-19?

No. None of the authorized and recommended vaccines contains the live virus that causes COVID-19. The different types of vaccines in development teach our immune system how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Symptoms such as fever are normal and are a sign that the body is building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19.

Building your immune system can take a few weeks meaning its possible a person could be infected with the virus just before or just after vaccination and still get sick. So stay safe and continue practicing the safety measures such as wearing a mask and washing your hands regularly as you build your immunity.

2. Is the Vaccine Safe?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) for two COVID-19 vaccines which have been shown to be safe and effective as determined by data from the manufacturers and findings from large clinical trials. These data demonstrate that the known and potential benefits of this vaccine outweigh the known and potential harms of becoming infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

3. Can I test positive after the COVID-19 Vaccine?

No. Neither the recently authorized and recommended vaccines nor the other COVID-19 vaccines currently in clinical trials in the United States can cause you to test positive on viral tests used to see if you have a current infection. The goal of vaccination is that you may test positive on some antibody tests that will show that you may have some level of protection against the virus.

4. Will the Vaccine protect me from getting sick with COVID-19?

Yes. The COVID -19 vaccine works by teaching your immune system how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19 and this protects you from getting sick from the virus. Being protected is important because one may get severe illness, have long term health effects, or even die. There is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you even if you don’t have an increased risk of developing severe complications.

5. Who gets vaccinated first when limited?

Because the supply of COVID-19 vaccine in the United States is expected to be limited at first, CDC is providing recommendations to federal, state, and local governments about who should be vaccinated first. CDC’s recommendations are based on recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), an independent panel of medical and public health experts. CDC recommends giving COVID-19 vaccine in phases:

a. Healthcare personnel and Long-term care facility residents

b. Frontline essential workers and People age 75 years and older

c. People aged 65 through 74 years and people aged 16 through 64 years with underlying medical conditions and other essential workers

6. If I have recovered from COVID-19, do I still need to get vaccinated?

Yes. Reinfection with COVID-19 is possible since it’s can cause severe health risk to an individual, therefore, a vaccine should be offered to you regardless of whether you already had COVID-19.

The Natural immunity gained after infection varies from person to person therefore the vaccine provides a boost to the immune system of the individual as a form of added protection. Both natural immunity and vaccine induced immunity are important aspects of COVID-19 that experts are trying to learn more about.

CDC is aggressively responding to the global outbreak of COVID-19 and community spread in the United States. Learn more about what they are doing to protect and prepare communities on https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html

Protection is key in this fight against COVID-19. The number of infected cases, hospitalizations, and deaths across the United States are rising. Therefore, we need to take steps to slow the spread of COVID-19. As a means to protect our families, friends and those around you, stay at least 6 feet apart, wear a protective mask, wash your hands regularly and get vaccinated. This virus is just one obstacle that as human beings, we can and will overcome.

Source: Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines (cdc.gov)

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