COVID-19 Vaccination Safety
Licking Memorial Health Systems (LMHS) is dedicated to improving the health of the community and encourages everyone to consider receiving a COVID-19 vaccination. LMHS physicians and staff have been continually researching the disease to better understand how to treat patients and have found the best way to battle the virus is with the vaccine. With a number of different types of vaccines produced quickly, many have questions about the safety of the products. The vaccine is a vital key to protecting yourself and your loved ones in order to enjoy large gatherings, family visits and special events once again.
The material below offers more information about vaccine benefits, sources of misinformation and where to search for reliable facts, and discusses many of the myths about the vaccines. LMHS encourages individuals to talk to their primary care physician about receiving a vaccination.
Immunizations play an important role in saving millions of lives each year by preventing life-threatening diseases and illnesses. The onset of the coronavirus pandemic last year prompted an urgent need for a vaccine that could be manufactured and distributed quickly. By the end of 2020, the COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna had received authorization for emergency use by the FDA, and most recently, approval for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The speed in which the COVID vaccines were developed has some people concerned about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. Much of the technology and information needed to create the vaccine has been in place for many years. Research on the coronaviruses that cause Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) provided scientists with the importance of the spike protein and identified such as a target for the development of the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine is the best tool for helping to end the pandemic, and the benefits that the vaccine affords to individuals far outweigh the potential risks.
Vaccination will help protect people from contracting COVID-19 or experiencing severe symptoms of the virus if they become infected.
Getting vaccinated helps a person to build antibodies to the disease so that their immune system will be ready to fight the infection. Minority populations, such as African Americans, are more likely to have diabetes, hypertension, obesity, asthma, and heart disease, which increases their risk of contracting COVID-19.
The vaccine is a safe way to build protection among the community.
Getting vaccinated adds to the growing number of those who have received the COVID-19 vaccine, which makes it more difficult for the disease to spread and contributes to herd immunity.
The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.
In order for a vaccine to receive approval or authorization from the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), it must be deemed safe and effective. Clinical trials are used to collect and analyze data to determine if the vaccine is safe, and the potential benefits of the vaccine must outweigh any known and potential risks for it to receive emergency use authorization (EUA).
In clinical trials, the Pfizer vaccine showed efficacy of 95 percent at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 infection after two doses, and the Moderna vaccine was 94 percent effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 after the second dose. The Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine was 72 percent protective against moderate COVID-19 cases in the United States, but the vaccine was shown to be 85 percent protective against severe disease, with no hospitalizations or deaths after the 28-day period in which immunity developed.
COVID-19 clinical trials in the U.S. focused on including an ethnically diverse number of volunteers.
In clinical trials for the Pfizer vaccine, 30 percent of the participants had a diverse background. 10 percent were African American, 13 percent were Hispanic, 6 percent were Asian and 1.3 percent were Native American. Patient demographics in the Moderna clinical trials were similar, with about 10 percent of participants being African American, 20 percent Hispanic, 5 percent Asian and 1 percent Native American. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine study included 13 percent African American participants, 15 percent Hispanic, 6 percent Asian and 1 percent Native American.
The vaccine may provide some protection against COVID-19 variants.
Early research suggests that the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines can provide protection against the COVID-19 variants identified in the U.K. and South Africa, while the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was shown to provide protection against severe disease with the COVID-19 virus caused by variants identified in South Africa and Brazil. Vaccine manufacturers also are considering the creation of booster shots to improve protection against variants.
Mild side effects are expected and normal.
The most common side effects have been headache, fatigue, pain and swelling at the injection site, body aches and chills. The symptoms typically disappear after one to two days and are proof that the body is mounting an immune response, which is normal and not dangerous.
Any adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine are reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). VAERS is a national early warning system to detect possible safety problems in U.S.-licensed vaccines and is co-managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and FDA. Data regarding the vaccines are accessible to the public on the VAERS website.
Severe reactions to the vaccine are rare.
There have been some reports of people experiencing an allergic reaction to the vaccine, including anaphylaxis; however, the risk of this is very small. Post-vaccination monitoring allows for medical treatment, such as epinephrine or steroids, to be administered if a person experiences a severe allergic reaction. Individuals who have a history of allergic reaction to other vaccines should talk with their physician, who can assess their risk and provide more information about how to get vaccinated safely.
According to the CDC, over 76 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in the United States from December 14, 2020, through March 1, 2021. During this time, VAERS received 1,381 reports of death (0.0018 percent) among people who received a COVID-19 vaccine.
The CDC recommends getting the vaccine and continuing to use preventive methods such as mask wearing, handwashing and social distancing. This is the optimal way for people to protect themselves and others from COVID-19 and end the pandemic.
Myth: The vaccines are not safe because they were rapidly developed and tested.
Fact: Clinical trials have proven that the vaccines are safe and produce little side effects. The most common side effects have been headache, fatigue, pain and swelling at the injection site and body aches. These symptoms are proof that the body is mounting an immune response, which is normal and not dangerous.
There have been some reports of people experiencing an allergic reaction to the vaccine, including anaphylaxis; however, the risk of this is very small. Post-vaccination monitoring allows for medical treatment, such as epinephrine or steroids, to be administered if a person experiences a severe allergic reaction. Individuals who have a history of allergic reaction to other vaccines should talk with their physician, who can assess their risk and provide more information about how to get vaccinated safely.
Myth: You can become sick with COVID-19 if you get the vaccine.
Fact: The COVID-19 vaccine cannot and will not infect people with the virus. There currently are three vaccines that the FDA has issued emergency use authorization (EUA) to prevent COVID-19. The vaccines created by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech are mRNA vaccines, and the vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson is a viral vector vaccine.
The mRNA vaccines work by replicating the genetic code of the virus to trick the body into producing antibodies without requiring the virus itself to be injected. An mRNA vaccine contains instructions that direct cells in the body to make antigens that will induce an immune response to prevent or fight disease. Once antibodies are created, the body acquires a defense against infection.
Viral vector vaccines use a modified version of a different virus – the vector – to deliver important instructions to cells in the body. The vector used for the COVID-19 vaccine is an adenovirus, or common cold virus, that has been modified to carry the genetic information of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. When the vaccine is administered, the modified adenovirus enters the cells and delivers the viral DNA, which causes the cells to produce the coronavirus spike protein to mimic the virus and prompt an immune response in the body. If a vaccinated person is exposed to COVID-19, their immune system now is able to recognize the virus and prevent infection.
Myth: If you have already had COVID-19, you don’t need the vaccine.
Fact: While having the virus offers some natural protection from contracting it again, it is not yet known how long this natural protection lasts. Studies have shown that most people who were infected with COVID-19 had a strong immune response six months after infection. However, some people do not acquire an adequate immune response and will need the vaccine for additional protection.
Myth: People with pre-existing conditions cannot take the COVID-19 vaccine.
Fact: It is safe for individuals with pre-existing conditions to receive the vaccine. Individuals with health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity and lung disease are at greater risk to suffer severe symptoms from COVID-19, and being vaccinated is even more important for people with underlying medical conditions.
Myth: The COVID-19 vaccine alters your DNA.
Fact: The COVID-19 vaccine does not alter a person’s DNA. The Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines contain mRNA, which carries instructions for cells on how to make the spike protein found on the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This mRNA material enters cells but does not enter the nucleus where DNA exists, and after the mRNA performs its job, it is quickly broken down by the body and discarded.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is an adenovirus vaccine. It contains an inactivated common cold virus, called adenovirus 26, which is modified to carry the genetic information of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. When the vaccine is administered, the modified adenovirus enters the cells and delivers the gene that instructs the cells to produce antigens that mimic the virus and prompt an immune response in the body.
Myth: I will not need to wear a mask after I get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Fact: It will take time for the majority of the population to receive the vaccine. While the vaccine may prevent those who receive it from getting sick, studies are ongoing to determine if vaccinated individuals can still carry and transmit the virus to others. Until more is understood about how well the vaccine works, it is important to continue with precautions, such as mask-wearing, handwashing and social distancing.
The CDC now is recommending public health guidelines for individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. People are considered fully vaccinated if it has been two weeks since they have received their second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. For the latest public health guidelines from the CDC, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html.
Myth: The COVID-19 vaccine was developed as a way to control the general population through microchip tracking or an implant in our brains.
Fact: The COVID-19 vaccines do not contain materials, such as implants, microchips or tracking devices. Ingredients for each vaccine can be found on the respective fact sheets below:
Myth: COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility or miscarriage.
Fact: COVID-19 vaccines do not cause infertility or miscarriage. During natural infection, the immune system generates the same antibodies to the spike protein that COVID-19 vaccines would. Antibodies to the spike protein have not been linked to infertility after a COVID-19 infection, and there is no evidence to suggest that the COVID-19 vaccine would cause any problems with pregnancy, including development of the placenta.
It is safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women to receive the COVID-19 vaccine when they are eligible, according to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG). It is possible that women who recently have been vaccinated may be able to pass some protective antibodies to the fetus through the placenta or to their baby through breastmilk.
The Internet is a useful tool for researching health-related issues, but sometimes it can be difficult to determine misinformation from facts. Social media platforms and fake news sites are spreading false information and conspiracy theories about vaccines, and this misinformation can prevent people from receiving protection against COVID-19. Before considering vaccine information on the Internet, it is important to check that the data comes from a credible source and is updated on a regular basis. The following organizations are known to be credible resources for information regarding COVID-19:
Questions to consider when visiting websites and evaluating information include:
- Who published the information?
- Who are the authors?
- What are their credentials?
- Do the authors have a hidden agenda?
- Is the information peer reviewed?
- Is the information based on scientific evidence?
- Is the information supported by facts?
- Is the original source listed?
- Do other sources back up the information?
- Is the information current?
Talking with a healthcare professional about health-related issues is the best way to receive reliable and accurate information. The Licking County Health Department offers a COVID-19 Question Hotline for individuals to call and receive answers to their questions. The hotline is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. In addition, people also may contact the Ohio Department of Health Coronavirus Call Center at 1-833-427-5634. The Call Center is staffed daily, including weekends, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.