Covid-19 is a severe and life-threatening health condition caused by the novel coronavirus, also known as SARS-CoV-2, and its variants. Medical experts and researchers are making substantial efforts to understand how the disease impacts each person.
Many people ask: are the Covid-19 vaccines available in the U.S safe? Is the Covid-19 vaccine effective at preventing severe illness, complications, and hospitalizations from the disease? It is crucial for people to make an informed decision by accessing accurate, evidence-based, and trusted information.
The most reputable organizations in the U.S and worldwide are the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), providing evidence-based information and data. Analyzing the data enables you to conclude whether you should take the shot.
Likewise, many people ask: how were the vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 developed so quickly? The quick answer is researchers made substantial efforts and used data from previously developed vaccines.
Not only did researchers conduct concurrent trial phases, but they also analyzed data from SARS and MERS coronaviruses to develop similar vaccines. Thus, this eliminated long waiting times, leading to faster development of Covid-19 vaccines. Read on!
Are Covid-19 Vaccines Effective?
The FDA has approved the Covid-19 vaccines developed by Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Janssen for emergency use. The CDC has also recommended the use of these three vaccines in the U.S.
During the research studies, researchers proved that vaccines were effective against Covid-19 and had higher efficacy rates. Although it is challenging for health authorities to compare the efficacy rates on an ongoing basis, the CDC recommends getting the first shot available to you.
That way, you can protect yourself from Covid-19. So, the Covid-19 vaccines developed by these three pharmaceutical companies are effective against the novel coronavirus and its variants. It is crucial to meet your primary care doctor and get more information on vaccines’ efficacy.
Does the Vaccine Cause Covid-19?
Many people fear the Covid-19 vaccines because they think the jabs can cause Covid-19. Remember, this is a misconception, and there is no evidence about it. None of the vaccines can lead to the development of Covid-19 or related symptoms.
According to CDC, vaccines work by preparing your body’s immune system to fight external pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and other microbes. The Covid-19 vaccine uses different methods and mechanisms to boost your immunity and achieve the desired result.
For example, the Covid-19 vaccine uses a harmless and weak virus that causes the disease. It is a spike protein that penetrates your cells, allowing your defense mechanism to recognize the protein and build immunity.
Moderna and Pfizer are messenger RNA vaccines, meaning these products don’t use a live virus, unlike other vaccines. Instead, mRNA vaccines instruct your cells to make a protein and trigger an immune response.
On the other hand, Johnson & Johnson, also known as Janssen vaccines, are based on viral vectors, meaning they use a modified version of a weak adenovirus to deliver instructions to the cells. So, vaccines can’t cause Covid-19 infections.
How safe are the Vaccines?
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), safety is the number priority for researchers and scientists during the Covid-19 vaccine development and approval process. Researchers make significant efforts to continuously monitor safety measures, including:
High-Standard Testing
The development of the Covid-19 vaccine involves various steps, unlike other vaccines developed for conditions like flu and measles. Clinical trial plays a crucial role in generating evidence for the safety and efficiency of vaccines because it involves thousands of participants. To date, scientists have not found any serious safety concerns during the clinical trials.
Assessment and Evaluation
The FDA uses high-level evaluation protocols and standards from third-party medical professionals to assess the clinical trial data. The purpose is to ensure the Covid-19 vaccine is effective, safe, and outweigh the risks. Likewise, the CDC reviews the available clinical data and makes an informed decision before recommending the vaccine for public use.
Continuous Safety Monitoring
Health organizations, including the FDA and CDC, continue to monitor all three vaccines developed in the U.S for any adverse reactions. The CDC and FDA have implemented state-of-the-art and cutting-edge technology systems to monitor the vaccine’s safety.
Benefits and Side Effects of Covid-19 Vaccines
The Covid-19 vaccine improves your immune system and reduces the risk of severe symptoms. Although you can develop a short-term defense system against Covid-19 from antibodies, these cells do not provide long-term protection.
Because Covid-19 symptoms vary from mild to severe and life-threatening, vaccination is crucial for a long-lasting immune response. The vaccine prevents your body from getting severely infected or ill if you contract SARS-CoV-2 or its variants. Moreover, the WHO says that Covid-19 vaccines are safe for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. So, there is no need to fear the Covid-19 vaccine.
According to CDC, Covid-19 vaccines do not come without side effects. The good news is that these side effects are mild and do not lead to complications. For example, the most common side effects of the Covid-19 vaccine are soreness or inflammation at the injection site, headache, chills, tiredness, and muscle pain.
Besides, CDC reports that people with severe allergies to vaccines, especially after getting the first dose, must not get it. Likewise, people who develop allergies to components of mRNA vaccines should also consult their primary care provider before taking the jab.
Besides, if you have an active Covid-19 case and quarantined yourself, you must wait until you have fully recovered from the disease. Once you have recovered from Covid-19, you can get the vaccine. The purpose is to stay in the quarantine and avoid risking other people’s lives.
Final Words
The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the entire world and caused the death of millions of people worldwide. However, the development of vaccines is a sigh of relief for the world, and things are getting back to normal. Therefore, research evidence shows that Covid-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and reliable for the general population.