8 Crazy Covid-19 Vaccine Myths Answered

Since coronavirus vaccines developed more quickly than other vaccines in the past, it has given rise to a few myths. Let us review some common myths about the vaccine and clear up confusion with reliable facts from the management and healthcare practitioners at Urgent Care Hawaii.

Myth #1: You can get COVID-19 from the vaccines

The Covid-19 vaccines teach your immune system to protect you from the virus. It is not possible to get infected because of the vaccine. The vaccines do not use the live virus to infect the body with Covid-19.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use mRNA, which stands for messenger ribonucleic acid. It means mRNA carries directions on how to build a protein within your body. It communicates with your body to make the spike protein that’s on the coronavirus. Then the body breaks down the mRNA and gets rid of it. Once the body receives the instructions from the vaccine, it produces the spike protein using its cells. This protein is isolated, not connecting, replicating, or reproducing in any way.

When the body’s immune system recognizes these proteins as foreign, it develops antibodies to attack and destroy them. Once this has occurred, the immune system has a memory of the protein and becomes prepared to attack and eliminate the actual SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Myth #2: You can test positive because of the vaccines.

When you get immunized with the Covid-19 vaccine, your body develops antibodies because it has built them as a part of your immune reaction. It is precisely what the body should do. It is a good thing and the reason why you will test positive for the antibodies. However, there is no virus in either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. You will not test positive on the PCR or an antigen test (these are the two methods used to test for Covid-19)

Myth #3: Experts have not thoroughly reviewed the vaccines.

43,661 people took part in the randomized Pfizer clinical trial at 150 sites (including 225 people at UC Davis Health) and, the results of these studies were carefully reviewed. The vaccines proved safe scientifically.

The data from Covid-19 vaccine trials got reviewed more quickly than usual by the U.S Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and other experts. They looked at data as information came in. In most cases, the experts would wait until the trials are complete. However, they utilized the same rigorous safety and efficacy standards as always. None of the safety protocols got changed or skipped, and none of the safeguards sacrificed. Vaccines usually take 7- 10 years to develop. However, global urgency ensured the Covid-19 vaccines got made at record speed.

The pandemic has claimed millions of lives and continues to infect people. Scientists and vaccine manufacturers globally put aside everything else they were working on to develop a vaccine. Universities, public health experts, manufactures, epidemiologists, and many others provided their full assistance while governments and other institutions supplied enormous funds to back up this development effort. Another reason for the speed is that researchers had already created a way of getting the mRNA into the body — called an mRNA platform — for trials on cancer efforts and other vaccines. What they needed to learn was the genomic sequence of the coronavirus.

Urgent Care Hawaii CEO Donna Schmidt states healthcare practitioners and frontlines workers are queuing up at the Covid-19 vaccine clinic in Hawaii to get immunized because we believe it is safe and produces the desired results.

Myth #4: The government has made the vaccine mandatory.

At the moment, there is no mandate from the government to get vaccinated.

Myth #5: The vaccines will change your DNA.

The mRNA-based vaccines do not enter the cell nucleus where our DNA resides. Hence there is no modification of the cell DNA. These vaccines cannot affect our genetic make-up. The vaccines instruct the body on how to develop immunity to Covid-19.

Myth #6: If you experience inflammation at the injection site or a day or two of side effects means the vaccine is working.

Everyone has slightly different reactions to the vaccination. As of today, 326,766 people have received their vaccines at a Covid-19 vaccine clinic in Hawaii. People have experienced chills, fatigue, body ache, soreness at the injection site, and fever. These are all normal reactions and should not last but if they continue, call your doctor, says Dr. Shoja.

Myth #7: Natural immunity lasts longer than immunity derived from a vaccine.

For most diseases, immunity acquired naturally lasts longer than immunity from vaccines. However, that means people need to get infected, suffer, struggle through the illness, and survive it. In the case of Covid-19, it may also be dangerous. The body’s natural immune reaction after a mild Covid -19 case appears to be short-lived, much shorter than the immunity expected from the vaccine. People need to get vaccinated to get herd immunity. Waiting to reach herd immunity naturally would mean millions of more people may lose their lives and livelihoods. Those that survive may experience long-term health issues and possibly permanent damage. Therefore we must reach herd immunity quickly and safely. We hope to offer vaccines not only to residents but tourists as well. We believe we will attract a large number of tourists to our COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Ko Olina and Waikiki states Dr. Shoja.

Myth #8: The vaccine injects a microchip or tracking device inside the body.

The first two COVID-19 vaccines authorized by the FDA contain mRNA and other standard vaccine ingredients, such as fats (which protect the mRNA), salts, and a small amount of sugar. These COVID-19 vaccines don’t use any controversial material, and they do not contain any material, such as implants, microchips, or tracking devices.

Even though Urgent Care Hawaii isn’t administering vaccines, we urge everyone in the community, especially our kupuna, to get the vaccine. Not being able to take the shots will leave a part of our kupuna vulnerable, Schmidt stated. They are going to have to keep adjusting their life to be safe.

Like other Urgent Cares around the country, Urgent Care Hawaii is waiting to receive vaccines to begin administering them at their COVID-19 vaccine clinics located in Ko Olina, Waikiki, Pearl City, Kailua, and Kapolei.