Being There For Each Other–Give it a Shot!

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is obviously a personal choice. To support you as you make your decision, here are 12 facts and insights, shared by Sherita Golden, M.D., at Johns Hopkins Medicine, who specializes in diabetes, heart conditions and patterns of disease in diverse communities:   

1. Protection from getting sick. The COVID-19 vaccines work with your immune system so your body will be ready to fight the coronavirus if you are exposed to it.  As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, getting the vaccine is a powerful step in being proactive with your health. 
2. It’s important for especially vulnerable people of color.  Getting vaccinated can provide valuable protection for these folks.
3. Getting vaccinated helps others in our community.  Here’s the deal sport fans–It’s not totally about you–it’s about not infecting others.  The more people who receive the coronavirus vaccines, the sooner vulnerable people can feel safe among others.  
4. More Covid19 vaccinations mean a chance to return to normal.  This is important–everyone is eager to think about returning to work, school, sports, family celebrations and social activities. Though there’s no way of knowing when the pandemic will be over–every person who gets protection from the coronavirus vaccine helps us move closer to normal life–yippy!
5. Though the COVID-19 vaccine development was fast, it did not skip steps. No corners were cut on testing for safety and efficacy. The vaccines were made using processes that have been developed and tested over many years, and which are designed to make and thoroughly test vaccines quickly in case of an infectious disease pandemic like we are seeing with COVID-19.
6. Diversity in COVID-19 vaccine testing helped assess safety and effectiveness.  COVID-19 affects everyone, so scientists made sure clinical trial participants for the vaccines were diverse–included Black (about 10% of participants) and Hispanic (about 20% of participants) people, older age groups (about 25%), and people with conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and heart and respiratory conditions. 
7. Side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine are temporary and do not mean you’re sick. The vaccines do not contain live coronavirus–you cannot and will not get COVID-19 from getting vaccinated. After the shots, you might experience a sore arm, a mild fever or body aches, but this doesn’t mean you have COVID-19–they are temporary, usually lasting only a day or two. They signal a natural response as your body’s immune system learns to recognize and fight the coronavirus.

(As of this writing the J&J one time vaccine has been returned for use with the label updating a general warning of risks–a very small percentage in comparison to the Covid19 risk.) 

8. Do you have allergies? You can probably still get the COVID-19 vaccine.  The CDC says people with allergies to certain foods, insects, 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. 
9. Here’s what we know about pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility concerns with the COVID-19 vaccines. Pregnant women should discuss a COVID-19 vaccine with their provider. The vaccines are safe for breastfeeding mothers, and do not harm a woman’s ability to become pregnant.
10. If you’ve already had COVID-19, getting the vaccine will add extra protection.  Even if you have already had COVID-19, you can still get a vaccine. Current guidelines suggest that anyone previously infected with COVID-19 should be vaccinated. 
11. COVID-19 Vaccines: Time is of the essence.  Some people are deciding not to get the coronavirus vaccines until more people have had them–however, waiting too long to be vaccinated allows the coronavirus to continue spreading in the community, with new variants emerging. Severe COVID-19 can be very dangerous: The sooner you get vaccinated, the sooner you are protected.

12 Vaccines can’t save lives unless people get vaccinated.  By themselves, the COVID-19 vaccines cannot shorten the pandemic. They can only work when communities agree to receive them. And, even if you are vaccinated, you should continue to wear a mask, wash your hands and practice physically distancing until the pandemic is over.

Personally, now that I am fully vaccinated, I’m able to attend my yoga classes, massages and vaccinated medical provider appointments maskless–what freedom–feeling much gratitude for the science and scientists that got us here. Trust and hope are invaluable!