Clinical Trials Have Validated The Safety Of The Vaccines
The COVID-19 vaccines, like other drugs and biologics released in the U.S., must go through multiple phases of rigorous testing, analysis, and review. In fact, the clinical trials for the COVID-19 enrolled far more participants than other vaccine trials. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration closely monitors the vaccine development process and testing results for efficacy and safety. As part of the FDAs formal process to determine if the vaccine is approved for public use, it also seeks a recommendation from a multidisciplinary team of experts consisting of independent medical officers, microbiologists, chemists, biostatisticians, and other health experts. The FDA continues to oversee the vaccine and its manufacturing following approval to ensure its ongoing safety. Read more.
To Protect And Support Health Services
Being vaccinated as a child means that youre less likely to contract infectious diseases over your lifetime. This relieves pressure on health service staff, who can then dedicate their efforts, funds and equipment to helping patients with non-preventable illnesses.
Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 will help in exactly the same way freeing up resources by lowering case numbers and preventing further backlogs of other treatments.
Vaccines For Hepatitis A And B
Our immune system battles foreign invaders every day, such as when we get a cold virus. When this happens, we develop immunity to that specific virus. This means that our body will fight off the virus if it is ever exposed to it again.
The same protection happens with vaccines. However, the benefit of a vaccination is that you don’t have to go through being sick to enable your body to fight off disease.
Gregory Poland, MD, director of the Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group, explains that hepatitis vaccinations contain a small amount of the inactive virus. When you get a dose of the vaccine, he says, your immune cells respond by developing immunity against the virus. This immunity lasts over a long period of time.
“So if I get these two doses of hepatitis A vaccine, and then I get exposed 30 years from now, my body will remember that immunity to the vaccine and rapidly start producing antibodies again,” says Poland.
Due to the way hepatitis vaccinations are developed, it is impossible to contract the virus from the vaccine itself, according to Poland.
The hepatitis A vaccine is usually given in two shots and the hepatitis B vaccine is administered as a series of three shots. The most common side effects are redness, pain, and tenderness where the shots are given.
To get long-term protection from these viruses, it’s important to receive all the shots as scheduled. However, if you received one shot and never went back for the others, it’s not too late to catch up.
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To Protect Future Generations
Over the course of history, humanity has had to coexist with many debilitating and life-threatening diseases that are now very rare thanks to childhood vaccination programmes.
However, the pandemic provides a dramatic example of the devastating global effect that a single disease can have in the absence of a vaccine. Immunising ourselves and our children against infectious diseases today is an invaluable gift to future generations. Suppressing diseases in the present will allow people in the future to live longer and healthier lives.
Will The Vaccine Protect Me From Covid
Getting vaccinated means you are far less likely to get really sick and have to go to hospital if you catch COVID-19. You are also less likely to pass COVID-19 on to other people.
Studies show that 95% of people who have received 2 doses of the vaccine are protected against getting COVID-19 symptoms.
- Dr Siouxsie Wiles explains how effective the vaccine is
- NZ Vaccine Facts: How the vaccine works against variants of COVID-19
- Nanogirl explains why we need 2 doses of the vaccine
- How does the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine work?
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Because Vaccines Save Lives
Things have come a long way since Edward Jenner first vaccinated a young boy against smallpox in 1796. The World Health Organization estimates that vaccination currently prevents 2 million to 3 million deaths every year.
Smallpox, which claimed approximately 300 million lives in the 20th century alone, has been fully eradicated thanks to the development and implementation of safe and effective vaccines.
For some people today, COVID-19 also proves fatal. If youre at high risk from the disease, getting vaccinated could save your life.
You May Be At Risk For Serious Disease
Every year thousands of adults in the U.S. become seriously ill and are hospitalized because of diseases that vaccines can help prevent. Many adults even die from these diseases. By getting vaccinated, you can help protect yourself from much of this unnecessary suffering.
Even if you received the vaccines you needed as a child, the protection from some vaccines can wear off. You may also be at risk for other diseases due to your job, lifestyle, travel, or health conditions. Find out what vaccines you may need based on different risk factors.
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To Save Time And Money
Vaccines have been widely recognised as one of the most time- and cost-effective medical interventions you can have. Receiving a vaccination only takes a few minutes and is very cheap .
On the other hand, contracting an infectious disease means taking time off from school or work and potentially racking up hefty medical bills.
Is The Vaccine Safe
COVID-19 vaccines needed to be rolled out quickly, but that does not mean safety was compromised. The Pfizer vaccine we are using in New Zealand is held to the same high safety standards as any other medicine.
COVID-19 vaccines are the most well-studied vaccines ever made. More than 50% of the world’s population have had a COVID-19 vaccine, and more than 3 million people in Aotearoa have had their second Pfizer vaccine. This means we have lots of data to show the Pfizer vaccine has been thoroughly assessed for safety.
- Dr Ashley Bloomfield on safety and development of the Pfizer vaccine
- Vaccinologist Helen Petousis-Harris on the safety of the vaccine
- How the vaccine was made, and its safety
- Sarah’s story: Deciding to get the COVID-19 vaccine while pregnant
- Dr Nikki Turner on the safety of vaccines during pregnancy
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Government Data And Privacy
No. North Carolina has no plan to require people to be vaccinated against COVID-19. It is possible that some employers or schools will require vaccines for their employees or students. Employers may ask if you have been vaccinated but cannot require that you share any other personal medical information.
North Carolina uses the COVID-19 Vaccine Management System and the NC Immunization Registry . These systems help vaccine providers know who has been vaccinated and with which vaccine to make sure people get the second dose of the same vaccine at the right time, or booster dose at the right time. It also allows the state to manage vaccine supply. Pharmacies, such as CVS, Walgreens and other grocery pharmacies, will not use CVMS to give and manage vaccines. These pharmacies will use their own systems.
North Carolina has an online public dashboard to share data on vaccinations. The data in the dashboard is updated Monday through Friday.
Mild Side Effects Are Expected
Like any medicine, vaccines can cause side effects such as a low-grade fever, or pain and redness at injection site. Mild reactions go away within a few days on their own.
Severe, long lasting side effects are extremely rare.
If you have questions or concerns about a vaccine, talk with your childs doctor. Learn about the safety of each recommended vaccine.
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To Be Able To Travel Safely
Travelling to other countries exposes you to pathogens your immune system is not familiar with. By receiving the vaccinations recommended for your destination, youll be able to enjoy your holiday without this risking an emergency visit to a local hospital or bringing back unwanted bugs.
Likewise, keeping up to date with your recommended vaccination schedule protects the inhabitants of your holiday destination from any infections you may otherwise carry with you. For this reason, COVID-19 vaccines could become mandatory for travel as they are rolled out.
How Can You Decide If You Should Get The Covid
Do your research: Your questions are important, and getting the right answers from reliable sources can add to your peace of mind. Talk to your family doctor and people you know who have been vaccinated and learn all you can about the COVID-19 vaccine so you can make the most informed decision about getting vaccinated.
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Safety Of Hepatitis Vaccines
Hepatitis vaccines have been given to millions of people all across the world without any evidence of serious side effects. “They’re very safe, and they’re extremely effective,” says Poland.
If you are not sure whether you should have hepatitis vaccines, talk with your doctor about your specific concerns.
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Return To Life As Normal
A vaccine is the best and only way to return to life as normal, or closer to what it was before COVID-19. While it will take some time to roll out vaccines to all of UI Heath Care, all Iowans, and globally, every individual vaccinated is a step in the right direction. And we all need to continue to follow our safety precautions for a long time to come.
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Get Vaccinated To: Protect The Community
Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect everyone in our community especially those who cant get vaccinated.
No vaccine provides 100% percent immunity, but they dont have to: their biggest strength lies in their ability to slow or stop the spread of disease through widespread uptake. If most of us are less likely to catch or carry the virus, it will struggle to spread.
Some people, including the elderly and people with certain health conditions, are more at risk of getting really sick with COVID-19. Others, including children under 12, arent currently eligible for the vaccine. By getting vaccinated, you protect those members of your community who cant be.
Why Should I Get The Covid
It’s the best way to slow this deadly pandemic.
There are three different COVID-19 vaccine options available in the U.S., and all are safe and provide powerful protection against severe illness and death from COVID-19. If you have questions about the vaccines, talk to your healthcare provider:
- Pfizer: This vaccine has been approved for emergency use for those ages 5 to 15. The Pfizer vaccine is fully approved for those 16+. Two doses are given 21 days apart. Smaller doses are given to children ages 5 to 12.
- Moderna: This vaccine has been authorized for emergency use for those 18 and older. It requires two doses that are given 28 days apart.
- Johnson & Johnson: The vaccine requires only one dose and has been authorized for emergency use for those 18 years and older.
We understand that you might be unsure about getting your COVID-19 vaccine or booster. Maybe youre not sure what to expect, are worried about side effects or you arent sure if its right for you.
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Getting Vaccinated For Covid
Older people and those living with chronic medical conditions such as heart disease and diabetes are more likely to experience severe even fatal cases of COVID-19 if they catch it. The more people who receive the coronavirus vaccines, the sooner vulnerable people can feel safe among others. Also, since every COVID-19 infection gives the coronavirus a chance to mutate, being vaccinated helps prevent variants.
If Youve Already Had Covid
A indicates that if you had COVID-19 before and are not vaccinated, your risk of getting reinfected is more than two times higher than for those who were infected and got vaccinated.
While evidence suggests there is some level of immunity for those who previously had COVID, it is not known how long you are protected from getting COVID-19 again. Plus, the level of immunity provided by the vaccines after having COVID-19 is higher than the level of immunity for those who had COVID but were not subsequently vaccinated.
Getting vaccinated provides greater protection to others since the vaccine helps reduce the spread of COVID-19.
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Do You Have Allergies You Can Probably Still Get The Covid
The CDC says people with allergies to certain foods, insects, latex and other common allergens can get a COVID-19 vaccine. If you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to a vaccine, be sure to discuss that with your doctor, who can evaluate you and assess your risk. However, if you are severely allergic to any of the coronavirus vaccines ingredients, you should not be vaccinated.
The Vaccine Can Help Your Unborn Baby Or Newborn
Studies have found that expectant mothers who receive the COVID-19 vaccine create antibodies to the virus and pass those to their unborn baby through the placenta. Mothers were also shown to pass antibodies to their newborns through breast milk. This suggests those newborns have some immunity to the virus, which is especially important as young children cannot get the vaccine. Learn more about vaccine considerations for pregnant and nursing women.
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The Science Behind The Vaccines
You cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccines. All of the currently authorized vaccines give your body temporary instructions to make a protein. The two-dose vaccines use mRNA technology, while the one-dose vaccine uses DNA technology to provide these instructions. This protein safely teaches your body to make germ-fighting antibodies against the COVID-19 virus. These germ-fighting antibodies are then ready to fight off the real COVID-19 if it ever tries to attack you. Your body naturally breaks down everything in the vaccine. There is no COVID-19 virus in the vaccine, and none of the vaccines can change your DNA.
The COVID-19 vaccines give the cells in your body the instructions to make a protein that safely teaches your body how to make antibodies to fight the real COVID-19. Your body naturally destroys the instructions and gets rid of them. None of the vaccine ingredients remain in your system, nor do they alter any DNA in your body. The three COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States do not contain eggs, preservatives, fetal tissue, stem cells, mercury or latex. For a full list of ingredients, please see each vaccines Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers:
Why You Should Consider Getting Your Vaccine Or Booster
- To protect yourself: Getting the vaccine and booster dose is the best way to protect yourself from severe illness or death from COVID-19. While some breakthrough cases are being reported, those who have been vaccinated generally have milder cases or dont have any symptoms. Over time, protection from the COVID-19 vaccine decreases. A booster dose helps provide continuing protection from getting infected with COVID-19 and experiencing severe symptoms.
- To protect those around you: If you get sick, you could spread the virus to others. Getting the vaccine while continuing to wear a mask and practice social distancing will help keep your friends and family safe, especially those who may be at risk for a severe case of COVID-19.
- To protect your community: For the vaccine to be effective against COVID-19, we need enough people to get vaccinated. We know that every person who gets vaccinated is a small step in the right direction.
At the end of the day, were confident that this vaccine is the most important public health strategy for slowing the spread of COVID-19, and we strongly encourage you to consider getting it.
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Ten Reasons Why You Should Get A Covid
At the brink of an unprecedented Covid-19 vaccination campaign, some may still not be sure whether the benefits outweigh the risks. Here Professor Martin Michaelis and Dr Mark Wass of the School of Biosciences give the ten reasons why you should get vaccinated:
1) Its rapid development does not mean it is less safe
Vaccine development often takes a long time but this is not the case for the Covid-19 vaccination. This is because it was not hindered by the typical issues vaccine development encounters the first being little commercial interest for them and thus less funding, and the second being that trial participants and infections are hard to come by.
There was no shortage of money, trial participants or infections for COVID-19 vaccines, but we have also been lucky and the vaccines work.
The current COVID-19 vaccines have been tested in more patients than most previously approved vaccines. Though experience with the current COVID-19 vaccines only covers about six months, the method of the Oxford/ AstraZeneca vaccine have been found safe in clinical trials for more than ten years and mRNA vaccines such as the BioNTech/ Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for more than three years. Hence, the vaccines are as safe as they can be, having been tested in more patients than would normally be possible.
2) The vaccines cannot cause COVID-19 because they do not contain the coronavirus
3) The vaccines do not interact with DNA
4) Most side effects are caused by the desired immune response