COVID. It’s a word that invokes a range of emotions for people, from fear to agitation to indifference. No matter what taste the pandemic has left in your mouth, we can all agree that we’re ready to get back to our normal lives without nasal swabs, social distancing, and face masks.
While that dream is still a ways away, the quickest way to get there is for everyone who can get vaccinated. Even though vaccines are available for everyone 12 years of age and older, some people still have hesitations about vaccine safety and effectiveness. It’s time to debunk the myths… COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and the absolute best way to end this pandemic as quickly as possible.
As of August 30, 2021, over 350 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been given in the United States. Of all those millions of doses, very few people suffered serious side effects. The exact numbers depend on which side effect is being discussed. For example, according to the CDC as of September 14th, “anaphylaxis after COVID-19 vaccination is rare and has occurred in approximately 2 to 5 people per million vaccinated in the United States.” To put that into perspective, you have about the same chance of being struck by lightning.
Even with that knowledge, many people have still fallen victim to myths surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines offered in the United States and around the globe. All of these myths have been debunked by scientific evidence and are not valid reasons to avoid getting vaccinated. If you are unsure of the benefits or risks of the COVID-19 vaccines, contact our office to request to speak with someone who is knowledgeable about the subject. We will explain all of the reasons why getting vaccinated is so important for everyone who is able to and even recommend which vaccine is the best for your age, gender, and health history.
This is a moment in history when nations will be defined. We need to think about the safety of our neighbors now just as much as ourselves. Getting vaccinated shows that you care about the people around you who aren’t able to effectively fight off the COVID-19 virus and its variants. Even more, research is being done on the safety and effectiveness of all the COVID-19 vaccines every day, and we hope to continue seeing promising results that may lead to an end of the COVID pandemic for good.
