Wrong for US: COVID Vaccine Myths and all those still holding out without cause

We are still along way from eradicating this awful plague upon the world including our country, and still a long way from achieving herd immunity to at least give us a semblance of eradication.

It’s time to say enough is enough, cut the crap, stop listening to garbage out there, stop making illegitimate excuses, stop continuing to put your communities at risk, stop contributing to further unnecessary loss of life and long haul medical problems as a result of contracting Covid for many of those that survive.

Mandates work and are unfortunately necessary because of all the foolish and irresponsible resistance on the part of people still not getting the vaccine and therefore prolonging this national emergency, this global pandemic, this war against COVID.

Time to step up fellow citizens and do your duty to eradicate this. We are going to have in less than 2 years time – ¾ million fellow Americans dead, including as of late more and more children, not to mention all the other effects such as the incredible level of economic harm and disruption to our lives that has already occurred.

HERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE FACTS (YOU CAN READ BELOW IN FULL THE RELEASES FROM THE MAYO CLINIC AND JOHN HOPKINS, JUST TWO AMONG MANY THAT CAN DISPELL THE MYTHS SURROUNDING RESISTANCE TO GETTING THE VACCINE). AND PLEASE REMEMBER, IF THIS STILL DOESN’T DO IT FOR YOU, AND YOUR RESISTANCE IS ROOTED PURELY IN A POLITICAL POSITION – THERE IS AN OLD SAYING, “YOU CAN’T CURE STUPID”!

Our view is simply this: Unless you have (a rare) a bon-a-fide medical condition preventing you from getting the vaccine, or are involved in a clinical trial preventing you from getting one until it’s concluded because it would otherwise risk altering the result, you have no excuse not to get it (as any other excuse is debunked below). The same holds true for the religious excuse, there is none with any merit, and quite the opposite – if you value your religious teachings then you will get it to help protect your family, friends, neighbors, community, and country. You will help to heal our nation, you will help the vulnerable, you will help children under 5yrs old, you will help the unborn, and you can certainly consider all of that to be a pretty pro-life stand don’t ya think. Please do, think, and get vaccinated!

Myth: The COVID-19 vaccine is not safe because it was rapidly developed and tested.

Fact: Wrong, significant resources went into quickly developing a vaccine for because of the world-wide impact of the pandemic. An emergency situation warranting an emergency response but that didn’t mean bypassed safety protocols or not performing adequate testing. They were shown to be safe and effective before gaining approval, are saving lives, preserving health and preventing more infections. "This is a spectacular human accomplishment. Think of this from 18 months ago or so when this was identified to having hundreds of millions, billions when you look worldwide that have received a vaccine and the speed at which the science has been able to move. Amazing." Pzifer and Moderna have shown 91-94% effectiveness and up to 100% for children ages 12 thru 15.

Myth: I already had COVID-19 and I have recovered, so I don’t need to get a COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available.

Fact: Wrong, getting COVID-19 might offer some natural protection or immunity from reinfection but it’s not clear how long this protection lasts, it varies widely from person to person, reinfection is still possible and COVID-19 can cause severe medical complications.

Myth: There are severe side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Fact:, Wrong, reports of serious side effects are exceedingly rare. Even the rare death reported as associated with a vaccine are not clear as to whether it was actually caused by the vaccine. You have an exponentially higher chance of death from getting COVID itself. For the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, you may experience some mild side effects, primarily injection site pain, fatigue and chills. These symptoms get better without medical care, and usually within 24 to 48 hours, unlike contracting COVID which can result in a myriad of long haul problems.

Myth: The COVID-19 vaccines don’t work because you can still get COVID after vaccination.

Fact: Wrong, vaccination will protect most people from getting sick ranging from 66% to 100% effective. A very small percentage of fully vaccinated people will still get COVID-19 if they are exposed to the COVID-19 virus called breakthrough cases. Some people might not experience any symptoms and some people could become sick however, vaccination might make illness less severe. If you are fully vaccinated, the overall risk of hospitalization and death is much lower than among unvaccinated people with similar risk factors, and because you are less likely to get it, there is more protection and less spread among your community.

Myth: The current COVID-19 vaccines don’t protect against the COVID-19 variants.

Fact: Wrong, the delta (B.1.617.2) variant is now the most common and it is nearly twice as contagious as earlier variants and might cause more severe illness. While research suggests that COVID-19 vaccines are slightly less effective against the variants, the vaccines still appear to provide protection against severe COVID-19. Now we also have the recommendation and capability for additional booster doses for those most susceptible.

Myth: Children can’t get severely sick with COVID-19, so they don’t need a COVID-19 vaccine.

Fact: While all children can get the virus and spread the virus that causes COVID-19, most have mild symptoms or no symptoms. However, there has been an increased number of cases, severely ill cases, hospitalizations, and deaths amongst children because of the delta variant. Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics has reported a significant increase in COVID-19 cases amongst people under 18 years of age. The delta variant is nearly twice as contagious as earlier variants and might cause more severe illness. In addition, children with underlying conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, asthma, congenital heart disease, genetic conditions or conditions affecting the nervous system or metabolism might be at even higher risk of serious illness with COVID-19. Research also suggests disproportionately higher rates of COVID-19 in Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black children than in non-Hispanic white children. Like adults some children continue to experience symptoms of COVID-19 after their initial recovery. Rarely, some children might also develop a serious long haul condition that appears to be linked to COVID-19.

Myth: I won’t need to wear a mask after I get vaccinated for COVID-19.

Fact: Wrong, if you are in an area with a high number of new COVID-19 cases the CDC recommends wearing a mask indoors in public and outdoors in crowded areas or when you are in close contact with unvaccinated people, as well as when if you are fully vaccinated and have a condition or are taking medications that weaken your immune system. You should also, or will be required regardless, to wear a mask on planes, buses, trains and other public transportation. With still a large number of unvaccinated people, with not having yet achieved basic herd immunity, and with the delta variant and more breakthrough cases, which you have no way of knowing when where who or if, it certainly errs on the side of caution and is a best practice to continue wearing masks.

Myth: The COVID-19 vaccine was developed to control the general population either through microchip tracking or "nanotransducers" in our brains.

Fact: Wrong and pure BS. There is no vaccine microchip, and the vaccine will not track people or gather personal information into a database. This myth started after comments made by Bill Gates about a digital certificate of vaccine records. The technology he was referencing is not a microchip, has not been implemented in any manner and is not tied to the development, testing or distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

The vaccines are also NOT magnetic or electromagnetic, nor will they cause your body to become a WIFI hotspot!

Myth: COVID-19 vaccines will alter my DNA.

Fact: Wrong, the vaccines are messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines which work by instructing cells in the body how to make a protein that triggers an immune response. Injecting mRNA into your body will not interact or do anything to the DNA of your cells. Human cells break down and get rid of the mRNA soon after they have finished using the instructions.

Myth: COVID-19 vaccines were manufactured using fetal tissue.

Fact: Wrong, Neither the Pfizer/BioNTech nor the Moderna vaccines contain fetal cells nor were fetal cells used in production of either vaccine. While the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine may have its production based on an adenovirus and historical immortalized embryonic cell origin (which does not specifically indicate they derived from an abortion), the vaccine itself does not contain embryonic cells. In addition, the Vatican and many denominations, as well as the Pope himself, has stated, and went so far as to mandate amongst Vatican staff, to get a vaccine dose irrespective of vaccine origin.

Myth: COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility or miscarriage.

Fact: Wrong, it’s recommended that you get a COVID-19 vaccine if you are trying to get pregnant or might become pregnant in the future. There is currently no evidence that any COVID-19 vaccines cause fertility problems.

Myth: Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Fact: Wrong, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s recommended that you get a COVID-19 vaccine, and early findings suggests that getting an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy poses no serious risks for pregnant women who were vaccinated or their babies. Also, keep in mind that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines don’t alter your DNA or cause genetic changes. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can protect you from severe illness due to COVID-19. Vaccination can also help pregnant women build antibodies that might protect their babies, the vaccines don’t cause infection with the virus, including in pregnant women or their babies, and none of the vaccines contain the live virus that causes COVID-19.

Myth: I am allergic to eggs so I shouldn’t get the COVID-19 vaccine

Fact: Wrong, neither the Pfizer/BioNTech nor the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines contain egg nor were eggs used the development or production of either vaccine.

Myth: COVID-19 vaccines must be stored at extremely low temperatures because of preservatives in the vaccines.

Fact: Wrong, Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna have reported that their vaccines contain no preservatives. Because these vaccines use messenger RNA, or mRNA which is fragile and can break down easily storing vaccines like these in an ultracold environment keeps them stable and safe. You should not worry about these temperatures. Vaccines are thawed before injection.

MYTH: Now that we have a vaccine for COVID-19, we can make vaccines for the common cold, HIV and other diseases.

Fact: Wrong, the thousands of viruses that cause various diseases are very different and it is a false comparison between this pandemic that in the U.S. alone has claimed 700,000 lives in about 18 months and others that are no where near that catastrophic level or mortality. Many change (mutate) year by year, making it difficult to develop one vaccine that works for a long period of time. Developing vaccines for some disease-causing viruses is tough. For example, the virus that causes HIV can hide and make itself undetectable by the human immune system, which makes creating a vaccine for it extremely difficult. The common cold can be caused by any one of hundreds of different viruses, so a vaccine for just one of them would not be very effective.

COVID-19 vaccine myths debunked

COVID-19 vaccine myths debunked – Mayo Clinic Health System

Updated Sept. 27, 2021

Vaccines are perhaps the best hope for ending the COVID-19 pandemic. In the U.S., one COVID-19 vaccine has received full Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, and two more have emergency use authorization. Health care facilities and pharmacies have plenty of COVID-19 vaccine supply for everyone interested in this important protection.

It’s likely you’ve heard false claims about these COVID-19 vaccines on social media or from the people in your life.

Let’s set the record straight on some of the myths circulating about COVID-19 vaccines.

Myth: The COVID-19 vaccine is not safe because it was rapidly developed and tested.

Fact: Many pharmaceutical companies invested significant resources into quickly developing a vaccine for COVID-19 because of the world-wide impact of the pandemic. The emergency situation warranted an emergency response but that does not mean that companies bypassed safety protocols or didn’t perform adequate testing.

Currently, several COVID-19 vaccines are in clinical trials. The FDA continues to review the results of these trials before approving or authorizing COVID-19 vaccines for use. But because there is an urgent need for COVID-19 vaccines and the FDA’s vaccine approval process can take months to years, the FDA first gave emergency use authorization to COVID-19 vaccines based on less data than is normally required. The data must show that the vaccines are safe and effective before the FDA can give emergency use authorization or approval.

According to Gregory Poland, M.D., an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group., the vaccines are saving lives, preserving health and preventing more infections. "This is a spectacular human accomplishment. Think of this from 18 months ago or so when this was identified to having hundreds of millions, billions when you look worldwide that have received a vaccine and the speed at which the science has been able to move. Amazing."

Vaccines with FDA emergency use authorization or approval include:

• Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
  The FDA has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, now called Comirnaty, to prevent COVID-19 in people age 16 and older. The FDA approved Comirnaty after data found the vaccine is safe and effective. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is 91% effective in preventing the COVID-19 virus with symptoms in people age 16 and older. The vaccine is still under an emergency use authorization for children ages 12 through 15. The vaccine is 100% effective in preventing COVID-19 in children ages 12 through 15. It requires two injections given 21 days apart. The second dose can be given up to six weeks after the first dose, if needed. Under an emergency use authorization, for patients with moderate to severe immunosuppression, a third dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination is recommended 28 days following the second dose as immunocompromised patients may not generate an adequate immune response to a two dose vaccination series.
• Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
  The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is 94% effective in preventing the COVID-19 virus with symptoms. This vaccine is authorized for people age 18 and older. It requires two injections given 28 days apart. The second dose can be given up to six weeks after the first dose, if needed. Under an emergency use authorization, for patients with moderate to severe immunosuppression, a third dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccination is recommended 28 days following the second dose as immunocompromised patients may not generate an adequate immune response to a two dose vaccination series.
• Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine
  In clinical trials, this vaccine was 66% effective in preventing the COVID-19 virus with symptoms — as of 14 days after vaccination. The vaccine also was 85% effective at preventing severe disease with the COVID-19 virus — at least 28 days after vaccination. This vaccine is authorized for people age 18 and older. It requires one injection. The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended that use of this vaccine continue in the U.S. because the benefits outweigh the risks. If you are given this vaccine, you should be educated about the possible risks and symptoms of a blood clotting problem.

Myth: I already had COVID-19 and I have recovered, so I don’t need to get a COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available.

Fact: Getting COVID-19 might offer some natural protection or immunity from reinfection with the virus that causes COVID-19. But it’s not clear how long this protection lasts. Because reinfection is possible and COVID-19 can cause severe medical complications, it’s recommended that people who have already had COVID-19 get a COVID-19 vaccine. If you were treated for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Myth: There are severe side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Fact: Reports of serious side effects are exceedingly rare. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 363 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in the U.S. from December 14, 2020 through August 23, 2021. During this time, the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) received 6,968 reports of death (0.0019%) among people who received a COVID-19 vaccine. FDA requires health care providers to report any death after COVID-19 vaccination to VAERS, even if it’s unclear whether the vaccine was the cause. Reports of adverse events to VAERS following vaccination, including deaths, do not necessarily mean that a vaccine caused a health problem.

For the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, you may experience some mild side effects, primarily injection site pain, fatigue and chills. These symptoms get better without medical care, and usually within 24 to 48 hours. Second doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines should still be given, even if you had one of these reactions after the first dose. While many people do not have reactions after vaccination, it is normal if you do. It does not mean you have the COVID-19 infection. It is an indicator that your immune system is responding to the vaccine. If you have a reaction, take some time to rest and allow your body to recover.

Myth: The COVID-19 vaccines don’t work because you can still get COVID after vaccination.

Fact: COVID-19 vaccination will protect most people from getting sick with COVID-19, ranging from 66% to 100% effective.

A very small percentage of fully vaccinated people will still get COVID-19 if they are exposed to the COVID-19 virus. These are called vaccine breakthrough cases. Some people might not experience any symptoms and some people could become sick due to COVID-19.

However, vaccination might make illness less severe. If you are fully vaccinated, the overall risk of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19 is much lower than among unvaccinated people with similar risk factors.

Myth: The current COVID-19 vaccines don’t protect against the COVID-19 variants.

Fact: In the U.S., the delta (B.1.617.2) variant is now the most common COVID-19 variant. It is nearly twice as contagious as earlier variants and might cause more severe illness. While research suggests that COVID-19 vaccines are slightly less effective against the variants, the vaccines still appear to provide protection against severe COVID-19.

For example:

• Early research from the U.K. suggests that, after full vaccination, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is 88% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 virus. The vaccine is also 96% effective at preventing severe disease with the COVID-19 virus caused by the delta variant.
• Early research from Canada suggests that, after one dose, the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is 72% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 virus caused by the delta variant. One dose of the vaccine is also 96% effective at preventing severe disease with the COVID-19 virus caused by the delta variant.
• The Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is 85% effective at preventing severe disease with the COVID-19 virus caused by the delta variant, according to data released by Johnson & Johnson.

To strengthen protection against COVID-19 and the delta variant, the CDC recommends additional doses and booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines in specific instances:

• Additional dose
  The CDC recommends a third dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for some people with weakened immune systems, such as those who have had an organ transplant. People with weakened immune systems might not develop enough immunity after vaccination with two doses of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. An additional dose might improve their protection against COVID-19.
• Third dose should be given at least 28 days after a second dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine
  The additional dose should be the same brand as the other two mRNA COVID-19 vaccine doses you were given. If the brand given isn’t known, either brand of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine can be given as a third dose.
• Booster dose
  The CDC recommends a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for people age 65 and older, residents in long-term care settings and people ages 50 to 64 who have underlying medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. A booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is also available to people ages 18 to 49 with underlying medical conditions and people ages 18 to 64 who have a job that puts them at increased risk of being exposed to COVID-19. A booster dose provides additional protection for people whose immune response weakened over time. The booster dose should be given at least 6 months after the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

There isn’t enough research to determine if people with weakened immune systems who got a Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine also have an improved response after getting an additional dose of the same vaccine. The CDC also hasn’t made recommendations about booster doses for people who got the Moderna or Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

Myth: Children can’t get severely sick with COVID-19, so they don’t need a COVID-19 vaccine.

Fact: While all children can get the virus that causes COVID-19, most have mild symptoms or no symptoms. However, there has been an increased number of cases amongst children because of the delta variant. Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics has reported a significant increase in COVID-19 cases amongst people under 18 years of age. The delta variant is nearly twice as contagious as earlier variants and might cause more severe illness.

While not as likely as adults, children can become severely ill with COVID-19. They might need to be hospitalized, treated in the intensive care unit or placed on a ventilator to help them breathe, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In addition, children with underlying conditions, such as obesity, diabetes and asthma, might be at higher risk of serious illness with COVID-19. Children who have congenital heart disease, genetic conditions or conditions affecting the nervous system or metabolism also might be at higher risk of serious illness with COVID-19.

Research also suggests disproportionately higher rates of COVID-19 in Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black children than in non-Hispanic white children.

Some children continue to experience symptoms of COVID-19 after their initial recovery. Rarely, some children might also develop a serious condition that appears to be linked to COVID-19.

A COVID-19 vaccine can prevent your child from getting and spreading the COVID-19 virus. If your child gets COVID-19, a COVID-19 vaccine could prevent him or her from becoming severely ill.

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine may also allow your child to start doing things that he or she might not have been able to do because of the pandemic.

Myth: I won’t need to wear a mask after I get vaccinated for COVID-19.

Fact: You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after you get a second dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine or two weeks after you get a single dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. After you are fully vaccinated, you can return to doing activities that you might not have been able to do because of the pandemic. You can also stop wearing a mask or social distancing in any setting, except where required by a rule or law.

However, if you are in an area with a high number of new COVID-19 cases in the last week, the CDC recommends wearing a mask indoors in public and outdoors in crowded areas or when you are in close contact with unvaccinated people. If you are fully vaccinated and have a condition or are taking medications that weaken your immune system, you may need to keep wearing a mask.

You also will still be required to wear a mask on planes, buses, trains and other public transportation traveling to, within, or out of the U.S., as well as in places such as airports and train stations.

Myth: The COVID-19 vaccine was developed to control the general population either through microchip tracking or "nanotransducers" in our brains.

Fact: There is no vaccine microchip, and the vaccine will not track people or gather personal information into a database.

This myth started after comments made by Bill Gates from The Gates Foundation about a digital certificate of vaccine records. The technology he was referencing is not a microchip, has not been implemented in any manner and is not tied to the development, testing or distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

Myth: COVID-19 vaccines will alter my DNA.

Fact: The first COVID-19 vaccines to reach the market were messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. According to the CDC, mRNA vaccines work by instructing cells in the body how to make a protein that triggers an immune response. Injecting mRNA into your body will not interact or do anything to the DNA of your cells. Human cells break down and get rid of the mRNA soon after they have finished using the instructions.

Myth: COVID-19 vaccines were manufactured using fetal tissue.

Fact: Neither the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine nor the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines contain fetal cells nor were fetal cells used in production of either vaccine.

While the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine may have its production based on an adenovirus and historical immortalized embryonic cell origin, the vaccine does not contain embryonic cells. In addition, the Vatican has stated to get a vaccine dose irrespective of vaccine origin.

Myth: COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility or miscarriage.

Fact: It’s recommended that you get a COVID-19 vaccine if you are trying to get pregnant or might become pregnant in the future. There is currently no evidence that any COVID-19 vaccines cause fertility problems.

A small number of women have reported experiencing temporary menstrual changes after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. A small study has also shown that some women experienced temporary menstrual changes after getting COVID-19. It’s not clear if getting COVID-19 or a COVID-19 vaccine causes these changes. Further research is needed.

Keep in mind that many things can affect menstrual cycles, including infections, stress, sleep problems and changes in diet or exercise.

Myth: Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Fact: If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s recommended that you get a COVID-19 vaccine. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can protect you from severe illness due to COVID-19. Vaccination can also help pregnant women build antibodies that might protect their babies.

COVID-19 vaccines don’t cause infection with the COVID-19 virus, including in pregnant women or their babies. None of the COVID-19 vaccines contain the live virus that causes COVID-19.

While further research is needed, early findings suggests that getting an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy poses no serious risks for pregnant women who were vaccinated or their babies. The findings are based on data from the CDC’s coronavirus vaccine safety monitoring system. Also, keep in mind that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines don’t alter your DNA or cause genetic changes.

In addition, vaccines that use the same viral vector as the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine have been given to pregnant women in each trimester of pregnancy in clinical trials. No harmful effects were found.

If you have concerns, talk to your health care provider about the risks and benefits of getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Myth: I am allergic to eggs so I shouldn’t get the COVID-19 vaccine

Fact: Neither the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine nor the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines contain egg nor were eggs used the development or production of either vaccine. However, those with severe allergic reactions to eggs or any other substance (i.e., anaphylaxis) are encouraged to remain after vaccination for 30 minutes for observation.

Myth: COVID-19 vaccines must be stored at extremely low temperatures because of preservatives in the vaccines.

Fact: Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna have reported that their vaccines contain no preservatives.

Different vaccines have different storage requirements. For instance, the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine must be stored at minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 70 degrees Celsius), while Moderna has said that its vaccine needs to be stored at minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 20 degrees Celsius). Both of these vaccines use messenger RNA, or mRNA, to teach your cells how to make a protein that will trigger an immune response to COVID-19. However, messenger RNA is fragile and can break down easily. Storing messenger RNA vaccines, like these COVID-19 vaccines, in an ultracold environment keeps them stable and safe.

You should not worry about these temperatures. Vaccines are thawed before injection.

We encourage you to share this story with others.

Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding, along with guidelines and recommendations, may have changed since the original publication date.

COVID-19 Vaccines: Myth Versus Fact

COVID-19 Vaccines: Myth Versus Fact | Johns Hopkins Medicine

Featured Experts: Gabor David Kelen, M.D. and Lisa Maragakis, M.D., M.P.H.

Updated September 23, 2021

Now that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized vaccines for COVID-19, and their distribution has begun, Lisa Maragakis, M.D., M.P.H., senior director of infection prevention, and Gabor Kelen, M.D., director of the Johns Hopkins Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response, review some common myths circulating about the vaccine and clear up confusion with reliable facts.

MYTH: The COVID-19 vaccine can affect women’s fertility.

FACT: The COVID-19 vaccine will not affect fertility. The truth is that the COVID-19 vaccine encourages the body to create copies of the spike protein found on the coronavirus’s surface. This “teaches” the body’s immune system to fight the virus that has that specific spike protein on it.

Confusion arose when a false report surfaced on social media, saying that the spike protein on this coronavirus was the same as another spike protein called syncitin-1 that is involved in the growth and attachment of the placenta during pregnancy. The false report said that getting the COVID-19 vaccine would cause a woman’s body to fight this different spike protein and affect her fertility. The two spike proteins are completely different and distinct, and getting the COVID-19 vaccine will not affect the fertility of women who are seeking to become pregnant, including through in vitro fertilization methods. During the Pfizer vaccine tests, 23 women volunteers involved in the study became pregnant, and the only one who suffered a pregnancy loss had not received the actual vaccine, but a placebo.

Getting COVID-19, on the other hand, can have potentially serious impact on pregnancy and the mother’s health. Learn more about coronavirus and pregnancy. Johns Hopkins Medicine encourages women to reach out to their medical providers to discuss other questions they have about COVID-19 as it relates to fertility or pregnancy.

MYTH: If I’ve already had COVID-19, I don’t need a vaccine.

FACT: Evidence continues to indicate that getting a COVID-19 vaccine is the best protection against getting COVID-19, whether you have already had COVID-19 or not.

• A study published in August 2021 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.

At the time of vaccination, be sure to tell your care provider about your history of COVID-19 illness, including the kind of treatment, if any, you received and when you recovered. Wait until your isolation period ends before making an appointment to get the vaccination.

MYTH: Researchers rushed the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, so its effectiveness and safety cannot be trusted.

FACT: Studies found that the two initial vaccines are both about 95% effective — and reported no serious or life-threatening side effects. There are many reasons why the COVID-19 vaccines could be developed so quickly. Here are just a few:

• The COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna were created with a method that has been in development for years, so the companies could start the vaccine development process early in the pandemic.
• China isolated and shared genetic information about COVID-19 promptly, so scientists could start working on vaccines.
• The vaccine developers didn’t skip any testing steps, but conducted some of the steps on an overlapping schedule to gather data faster.
• Vaccine projects had plenty of resources, as governments invested in research and/or paid for vaccines in advance.
• Some types of COVID-19 vaccines were created using messenger RNA (mRNA), which allows a faster approach than the traditional way that vaccines are made.
• Social media helped companies find and engage study volunteers, and many were willing to help with COVID-19 vaccine research.
• Because COVID-19 is so contagious and widespread, it did not take long to see if the vaccine worked for the study volunteers who were vaccinated.
• Companies began making vaccines early in the process — even before FDA authorization — so some supplies were ready when authorization occurred.

MYTH: Getting the COVID-19 vaccine means I can stop wearing my mask and taking coronavirus precautions.

FACT: The CDC continues to monitor the spread of COVID-19 and makes recommendations for wearing face masks, both for those who are fully vaccinated as well as those who are not fully vaccinated.

The CDC also recommends that masks and physical distancing are required when going to the doctor’s office, hospitals or long-term care facilities, including all Johns Hopkins hospitals, care centers and offices.

Johns Hopkins Medicine’s current mask safety guidelines have not changed, and we still require all individuals to wear masks inside all of our facilities.

MYTH: Getting the COVID-19 vaccine gives you COVID-19.

FACT: The vaccine for COVID-19 cannot and will not give you COVID-19. The two authorized mRNA vaccines instruct your cells to reproduce a protein that is part of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which helps your body recognize and fight the virus, if it comes along. The COVID-19 vaccine does not contain the SARS-Co-2 virus, so you cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine. The protein that helps your immune system recognize and fight the virus does not cause infection of any sort.

MYTH: The side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine are dangerous.

FACT: In April 2021, the CDC temporarily paused and then resumed use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Read full story.

The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines can have side effects, but the vast majority are very short term —not serious or dangerous. The vaccine developers report that some people experience pain where they were injected; body aches; headaches or fever, lasting for a day or two. These are signs that the vaccine is working to stimulate your immune system. If symptoms persist beyond two days, you should call your doctor.

If you have allergies — especially severe ones that require you to carry an EpiPen — discuss the COVID-19 vaccine with your doctor, who can assess your risk and provide more information about if and how you can get vaccinated safely.

MYTH: The COVID-19 vaccine enters your cells and changes your DNA.

FACT: The COVID-19 vaccines are designed to help your body’s immune system fight the coronavirus. The messenger RNA from two of the first types of COVID-19 vaccines does enter cells, but not the nucleus of the cells where DNA resides. The mRNA does its job to cause the cell to make protein to stimulate the immune system, and then it quickly breaks down — without affecting your DNA.

MYTH: The messenger RNA technology used to make the COVID-19 vaccine is brand new.

FACT: The mRNA technology behind the new coronavirus vaccines has been in development for almost two decades. Vaccine makers created the technology to help them respond quickly to a new pandemic illness, such as COVID-19.

MYTH: The COVID-19 vaccine was developed with or contains controversial substances.

FACT: The first two COVID-19 vaccines to be authorized by the FDA contain mRNA and other, normal vaccine ingredients, such as fats (which protect the mRNA), salts, as well as a small amount of sugar. These COVID-19 vaccines were not developed using fetal tissue, and they do not contain any material, such as implants, microchips or tracking devices.

MYTH: Now that we have a vaccine for COVID-19, we can make vaccines for the common cold, HIV and other diseases.

FACT: The thousands of viruses that cause various diseases are very different. Many change (mutate) year by year, making it difficult to develop one vaccine that works for a long period of time.

Developing vaccines for some disease-causing viruses is tough. For example, the virus that causes HIV can hide and make itself undetectable by the human immune system, which makes creating a vaccine for it extremely difficult.

The common cold can be caused by any one of hundreds of different viruses, so a vaccine for just one of them would not be very effective.