Getting Vaccinated Soon? Here Are The Important Details You Need To Know
Being one of the first few to get the COVID vaccine must be quite a unique experience. Think about 20 years later, the moment when you tell your grandkids about the time you were among the first on Earth to receive the coronavirus vaccine. Until then, it’s a lot harder to think of it that way since the internet is flooded with misinformation about the vaccine, some false, some true, and the science-backed facts are rarely shared by the public on social media given the current global circumstances. If you are harboring a few concerns or are simply interested to know what you’re walking into, here’s everything you’ll need to know before you take the vaccine.
The Benefits
As with any vaccine, the COVID-19 vaccine’s main benefit is its ability to make us immune to the virus. Although, you’ve got to keep in mind that it only works for a short duration. Evidence has not been yet discovered regarding the vaccine’s long-term effects. The vaccine also helps to keep the symptoms of the virus in check, so even if you get the virus, your body will be more equipped to handle it and you won’t get as ill. Through those two functions, the vaccine can reduce the spread of COVID-19. Not just that, but the vaccine will also keep the first responders as safe as possible while doing their jobs.
How Does the Vaccine Work?
While there are many ways of developing vaccines, the one method used for the two available vaccines so far is mRNA-based. The RNA of a virus is a piece of genetic information that’s protected in a protein shell. When the virus enters the body, it takes over cells, sends them its RNA containing all its genetic information, and forces the compromised cells to make more of the virus. The vaccine itself has a piece of man-made mRNA (messenger RNA) that tells the body to make harmless pieces of coronavirus protein. Once the alien protein is made, the body naturally starts to create antibodies to defeat it. Because your body stores such information necessary to survival, the next time coronavirus enters your body, it will know which antibodies to manufacture.
Safety and Side Effects
To get your initial concerns out of the way, the vaccine is perfectly safe. When it comes to medicine, viruses, and vaccines, it’s important to be able to differentiate between myths and facts. That’s why you need to be selective with your sources for information on covid vaccine safety, especially because the loudest voices are not always the most reliable. As for the side effects, you might get a few mild side effects ranging from fever to fatigue and headaches, but these all subside after two days.
The Available Vaccines
The vaccines authorized by the FDA so far are two. First, there’s the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. It’s composed of two doses and the second dose should be taken 21 days apart from the first. A week after the second dose, the vaccine takes complete effect. The second vaccine is the Moderna vaccine which also requires two injections, though they should be taken 28 days apart. The vaccines have efficiency rates of 95% (Pfizer) and 94% (Moderna).
Allergies and Restrictions
Before you take your vaccine, if you know the type you are getting, make sure you research its ingredients. If you are allergic to anything, including polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polysorbate,
you’d be better off not taking the vaccine. If you have already taken your first dose, the CDC states that you shouldn’t take the second. If you are unsure, there’s no need to worry since, in any case, you will be monitored for at least fifteen minutes after receiving your shot. There is also a minimum age for those who can receive the vaccine and that is 16 for the Pfizer vaccine and 18 for the Moderna vaccine.
After the Vaccine
It’s common for people to think that once vaccinated, there’s no need to abide by the other COVID-19 precautions, but that shouldn’t be the case. Since the body takes time after the vaccine to produce the antibodies necessary to fend off coronavirus, you can still get infected. Not just that, but there is also no clear data on how long the vaccine lasts so unless you want to be taking that risk of getting infected or spreading the virus, it’s better to adhere to the necessary precautions until further instructions.
That being said, if you’re still worried or concerned, keep in mind that the vaccine is safe. It wouldn’t have been approved by the FDA if it wasn’t. Not just that, but you can also ask your doctor or the doctor administering the vaccine anything you want. The one cure to fear is information so, the more you know about the virus and the vaccine, the less convincing your fears are going to feel.
