Top questions & answers about the COVID-19 vaccines
Children do not get really sick from COVID-19, so is there no need to vaccinate them?
COVID-19 still presents a serious risk to children. It is one of the top ten causes of death for children aged 5-11.
If you are worried about vaccinating your children or have questions about it, please talk to your pediatrician. A great place to start is “Did you vaccinate your own children? Why?”
As of October 2021, 8,300 children have been hospitalized with COVID in the US. There have also been 100 deaths. Children are also at risk of developing long term symptoms like multisystem inflammatory syndrome.
Source: CDC: Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines for Children
Is it better to just catch COVID-19 and get “natural immunity” than get a vaccine?
No one should expose themselves to COVID-19 on purpose. Millions of people have been hospitalized and have died from this disease and it is impossible to predict how serious your illness may be. People have also experienced long haul symptoms lasting for years after their illness.
While you may get some protection from natural immunity, the levels vary from person to person depending on how severe your illness was. Vaccines have been shown to boost that protection significantly.
It is also important to remember that the more people catch COVID-19, the more it is likely to continue mutating and creating more variants. We could end up with a variant that our vaccines can’t protect us from.
Source: CDC: Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines
Do the vaccines contain aborted fetal cells?
No. There are no fetal cells in any of the COVID-19 vaccines.
The mRNA vaccines were tested on fetal cell lines. And the Johnson & Johnson vaccine did use them during development. However, the cells used in both testing and development were several hundred generations removed from the original cells taken in the 1980s.
The Pope has also fully endorsed vaccination, stating that “it is “morally acceptable” for Catholics to receive COVID-19 vaccines based on research that used cells derived from aborted fetuses.” He has gone on to call getting vaccinated an “act of love”.
Sources:
Can mRNA vaccines alter my DNA?
No. The mRNA in the COVID-19 vaccines can not alter your DNA. It does not have the ability to enter the nucleus of any of your cells so it does not come near any of your DNA.
The mRNA codes for a small part of the virus called the “spike protein”. This helps your body identify the virus and fight it off later.
Source: Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services: Covid Vaccine Facts
Are the vaccines dangerous?
The vaccines have been rigorously tested and are closely tracked for any safety issues. More than half a billion doses of the vaccines have been given out in the U.S. alone. We have only seen a few thousand cases of serious side effects.
The chances of you getting a serious side effect from a COVID-19 vaccine is only 0.0008%. You are 8x more likely to be struck by lightning in your lifetime.
Sources:
- National Weather Service: How Dangerous is Lightning?
- CDC: Selected Adverse Events Reported after COVID-19 Vaccination
Will the COVID-19 vaccines make me sterile?
No. There is no evidence that the vaccines will impact your fertility in any way.
Vaccines and Pregnancy
The vaccine can not cause your immune system to start acting against your placenta, fertilization, or a fetus.
There’s no reason to avoid the vaccine if you are, or want to get pregnant.
In fact, several obstetrical societies and the World Health Organization now recommend that pregnant people get vaccinated.
Pregnant people are more likely to get seriously ill if they get infected with COVID-19. Serious COVID-19 can lead to serious complications during and after pregnancy that can threaten both mother and child.
If you have concerns you should discuss them with your healthcare provider.
Vaccines and Male Sterility
The COVID-19 vaccine will not make you sterile. Some people (about 16%) get a mild fever for a day or two – and any fever will temporarily reduce sperm count.
On the other hand, men are more likely to get COVID-19, more serious cases, and die more often than women.
A serious case of COVID-19 can reduce fertility.
According to the Journal of the Society for Fertility and Reproduction “Current studies confirm that SARS-CoV-2 can affect the male reproductive system. Abnormal levels of sex hormones and declining sperm quality were observed in patients during and after recovery from COVID-19.” The worse the case, the worse the impact.
Sources:
- The University of Chicago Medical Center: COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy: What you need to know if you’re pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: COVID-19 Vaccination Considerations for Obstetric–Gynecologic Care
- Fertility and Sterility: COVID-19 vaccine and infertility: baseless claims and unfounded social media panic
- Society for the Study of Male Reproduction: Joint Statement Regarding COVID-19 Vaccine in Men Desiring Fertility from the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology (SMRU) and the Society for the Study of Male Reproduction (SSMR)
Is Ivermectin a better option than the COVID-19 treatment?
Studies have shown that Ivermectin is not a viable treatment for COVID-19, despite it’s frequent off-label use as an antiviral.
Ivermectin is a drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of internal parasites or as a cream to treat lice and rosacea. Other forms of Ivermectin are designed to treat parasites and heartworm in large animals like horses and cows.
Ivermectin designed for humans is safe to take under doctor’s supervision. A responsible doctor will ensure you have the right dose, and that you don’t have other medical conditions that would make it unsafe. It is VERY DANGEROUS to self-medicate and take drugs without a doctor’s prescription. Also it is NEVER SAFE TO TAKE IVERMECTIN FOR ANIMALS.
Sources:
- Food & Drug Administration: Why You Should Not Use Ivermectin to Treat or Prevent COVID-19
- JAMA: Efficacy of Ivermectin Treatment on Disease Progression Among Adults With Mild to Moderate COVID-19 and Comorbidities
Does the COVID-19 vaccine contain microchips?
No. There is no microchip of any kind in any of the vaccines.
Source: Reuters: False claim: A microchip implant will come with coronavirus vaccines
Can a vaccine be safe if it was developed so quickly?
Usually, vaccines are developed by small teams with limited budgets. But the COVID-19 vaccines were developed faster because:
- The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 is related to a very common, well researched class of viruses known as coronaviruses.
- Scientists from around the globe shared their years of coronavirus research and worked together on the vaccine.
- Advanced technologies developed over the last 10 years were used in developing the vaccines.
- Governments and private companies provided nearly unlimited funding and put them at the front of the line for all paperwork and approvals.
According to the CDC, the approved vaccines meet the FDA’s rigorous standards established in June 2020.
Sources:
How many doctors are vaccinated?
A survey taken by the American Medical Association showed that 96% of doctors in the U.S. are vaccinated. This survey was completed in the months before vaccine mandates came out, showing that this was a voluntary choice made by the people on the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19. If you are unsure about getting vaccinated, talk to your doctor and ask them why they choose to be vaccinated.
Source: American Medical Association: AMA survey shows over 96% of doctors fully vaccinated against COVID-19
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