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Now that there are authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines available, it is essential that people receive accurate information. Peter Gulick, professor of medicine at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and expert in infectious diseases, reviews some vaccine myths and challenges them with scientific facts.
Myth: COVID-19 vaccines have been developed in haste, so their effectiveness and safety cannot be trusted.
Made: Studies have shown that Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna are both about 95% effective compared to the influenza vaccine, which ranges from 50% to 60% each year. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is 85% effective in curbing severe or moderate illness. The most important statistic is that all three were 100% effective in stopping hospitalizations and deaths.
As of March 9, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 93.7 million people have been vaccinated and all safety data collected from those doses shows no red flags. There have been about 5 million cases of anaphylaxis, an allergic reaction, but it is no different from allergic reactions from other vaccines.
There are many reasons why COVID-19 vaccines could be developed so quickly and here are a few:
- Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines were created with messenger RNA technology in development for years, so companies can start the vaccine development process early in the pandemic.
- China has quickly isolated and shared genetic information about COVID-19 so scientists can start work on vaccines.
- The vaccine developers didn’t skip any testing steps, but performed some of the steps on an overlapping schedule to collect data faster.
- The Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna vaccines were created using messenger RNA, or mRNA, which allows for a faster approach than the traditional method of making vaccines.
- Because COVID-19 is so contagious and widespread, it didn’t take long to see if the vaccine was working for the vaccinated study volunteers.
- The companies started manufacturing vaccines early in the process – even before FDA clearance – so some supplies were ready at the time of clearance.
- They are developing COVID-19 vaccines so quickly also due to years of previous research into SARS COV-1, a related virus.
Myth: The messenger RNA technology used to make the Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is brand new.
Made: The messenger RNA technology behind these two vaccines has been studied and in development for almost two decades. Interest in these vaccines has grown because they can be developed in a laboratory using readily available materials, which accelerates vaccine development. MRNA vaccines have already been studied for influenza, Zika virus and rabies.
Myth: You only need one dose of J&J vaccine for it to be more effective.
Made: Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine uses a different strategy – a weakened cold virus that is reprogrammed to include the code for the spike protein. Once inside the body, viral genes trigger a similar response against the virus. All three vaccines are considered globally effective and 100% effective in preventing hospitalizations and death.
Myth: The effectiveness and efficacy of vaccines mean the same thing.
Made: Efficiency and efficiency do not mean the same thing. “Effectiveness” refers to the results of the effectiveness of a drug or vaccine based on tests, while “effectiveness” refers to the effectiveness of these products in the real world, in a much larger group. wide of people. Most people, however, use them interchangeably even though they have different scientific meanings.
Myth: Vaccines are not effective against new strains of the virus.
Made: Currently, we know that the British strain as well as the South African variant have an increased transmissibility of 30% to 50% compared to the natural strain. As for the increase in causes of more serious diseases, it is not yet known. We have over 600 British variants in Michigan and one case of the South African variant, and I just heard about 47 cases of the UK variant at Grand Ledge. We (Michigan) are second in the country in the variants, but that’s probably because we’re testing them more.
The most important information is that vaccines, in general, are 100% effective in preventing hospitalizations and death. Thus, they are all believed to offer some protection against the variants to prevent serious illness.
As for the Johnson & Johnson, it has been used with variants and has an overall effectiveness of 72% in the United States, 66% in Latin America and 57% in South Africa (where the main strain is the southern variant -African). All companies are considering modifying (their products) (mRNA) to cover variants and giving a booster or multivalent vaccine to cover all variants.
Myth: COVID-19 vaccines have serious side effects.
Made: The COVID-19 vaccine can have side effects, but the vast majority go away quickly and are not serious. Vaccine developers report that some people experience pain where they were injected; stiffness; headache or fever, which lasts a day or two. It’s okay and these are signs that the vaccine is working to boost your immune system. If symptoms persist beyond two days, you should call your doctor.
Myth: Getting the COVID-19 vaccine gives you COVID-19.
Made: The COVID-19 vaccine cannot and will not give you COVID-19. Both licensed mRNA vaccines instruct your cells to mimic a protein that is part of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which helps your body recognize and fight the virus, if it occurs. The COVID-19 vaccine does not contain the SARS-Co-2 virus, so you cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was developed using adenovirus vector technology and will not give you COVID-19 either. This shows your immune system a weakened cold virus that is “disguised” as a coronavirus. Adenovirus vaccines have been around for about two decades, as have mRNA vaccines. Johnson & Johnson developed an Ebola vaccine using this technology.
Myth: Vaccines are ineffective against variants of the virus.
Made: It takes more time to study the effectiveness of vaccines against the variants. Studies are currently being carried out to determine whether a booster dose is needed to protect against variants or whether modifications to the vaccines are necessary.
Myth: I already had COVID-19 and recovered, so I didn’t need to get the vaccine.
Made: There is not enough information currently available to say whether or for how long after receiving COVID-19 a person is protected against a new infection. This is called natural immunity. Early evidence suggests that natural immunity to COVID-19 may not last very long, but more studies are needed to better understand this. The CDC recommends getting the COVID-19 vaccine, even if you’ve had COVID-19 before. However, those who had COVID-19 should delay vaccination until about 90 days after diagnosis. People should not be vaccinated if they are in quarantine after exposure or if they are showing symptoms of COVID-19.
Myth: I will not need to wear a mask after receiving the vaccine.
Made: It may take some time for anyone who wants to get a COVID-19 vaccine to get one. Also, although the vaccine can keep you from getting sick, more research is needed, but early indications show that if the vaccine is effective in reducing transmission, it is possible for a vaccinated person to spread the virus. Until more is known about how the vaccine works, it will be important to continue taking precautions such as wearing a mask and physical distancing.
Myth: COVID-19 vaccines will change my DNA.
Made: COVID-19 vaccines will not alter any human genome and cannot make any changes to your DNA. Vaccines contain all of the instructions needed to teach your cells to make the SARS-CoV-2 signature spike protein, release it in the body, and your immune system trains to fight COVID-19.
Myth: COVID-19 vaccine may affect women’s fertility
Made: There is currently no evidence that the antibodies formed from the COVID-19 vaccination cause any problems with pregnancy, including the development of the placenta. Additionally, there is no evidence to suggest that fertility problems are a side effect of a vaccine. People who are trying to get pregnant now or planning to try in the future may receive the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to them, but it is always prudent to see your doctor.
Myth: The COVID-19 vaccine was developed to control the general population either through microchips or “nanotransducers” in our brains.
Made: There is no vaccine microchip, and the vaccine cannot track people or collect personal information in a database.
Myth: The vaccines were developed and produced from fetal tissue.
Made: The vaccines do not contain fetal cells, nor have they been used in the production of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Johnson & Johnson used human cell lines or also known as cell cultures to grow the harmless adenovirus, but did not use fetal tissue. These same cell lines have been used in other vaccines, including hepatitis, chickenpox and rabies, and have been around for years.
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