Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy to Protect One Another

It is understandable that some folks feel hesitant about receiving the COVID vaccine. Between personal concerns and widely spread false information, it can feel like there is a lot to consider when it comes to getting vaccinated. However, as we continue to learn more about the virus and the way it mutates, we have also become more confident that getting vaccinated against COVID is the best way to prevent the serious health risks associated with the virus.

Below, we will address some of the common reasons why some people may feel hesitant about getting the COVID vaccine along with some info to put you at ease about making that vaccine appointment.

This is a very common question. Thanks to the hard work of scientists and health experts, COVID vaccines became available astonishingly quickly. This is great news when it comes to fighting a global pandemic, but it also raised some concerns about whether the vaccine was really ready and safe to be rolled out to the public.

So when wondering whether the vaccines are safe, the answer is – yes! One of the reasons that scientists were able to develop mRNA vaccines so quickly is that they had already been working on mRNA-type vaccines for several years. They were able to use this foundation as the basis for the COVID vaccines, meaning that they already had a head start.

All of the COVID vaccines are safe and effective against COVID-19. As more time goes on, we have only become more confident about the efficacy of these vaccines.

It is true that we are seeing some COVID cases among those who are fully vaccinated, otherwise known as “breakthrough” cases. This would be understandably concerning if the main objective of the vaccines was to prevent contracting COVID altogether. However, the main goal of the vaccines is to prevent serious illness and hospitalization, and the vaccines are doing that very well – even with the emergence of new variants.

Another thing to note is that having more people vaccinated helps ensure that new variants, which could potentially mutate enough to a point where the vaccines are less effective, never develop. These variants have the chance to develop when they have the opportunity to spread from person to person. Therefore, the more people who are vaccinated, the less chance for mutations to occur. This is one reason why getting vaccinated does more than just protect you – it helps protect all those around you as well.

The most common side-effects from the COVID vaccines are typical of what we see from other vaccines like the flu shot. These include:

These side effects should only last 1 or 2 days, and they are a sign that your immune system is working well. There have been a few very rare cases of myocarditis (heart inflammation) and blood clots believed to be associated with the vaccines. However, these a very rare instances and doctors emphasize that the risk of developing these conditions is greater with COVID than it is with the vaccines.

If you still find yourself with some hesitations about getting the vaccine, talk to your doctor. Health care workers are happy to provide answers to any of your questions and help put your mind at ease when it comes to getting vaccinated. Remember, getting vaccinated is a great way to protect yourself and those around you – it takes all of us working together to protect our community!