Debunking the COVID-19 vaccine myths
May 26, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has been overwhelming; so many changes to how we live our lives; uncertainty on when it will be safe to shift back to normal. From work-from-home; school-from-home to postponed events, our collective community has felt the loss of connection.
The COVID-19 vaccine has offered hope and is proving effective. Over 287 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in the United States from December 14, 2020, through May 25, 2021. President George W. Bush, FOX News anchor Brian Kilmeade, Oprah Winfrey, director Spike Lee, John Legend, and a host of well-known celebrities have been vaccinated, including Pope Francis.
To date, over 21 million vaccine doses have been administered in Texas. Over 32 percent of Texans are fully vaccinated.
COVID-19 positivity rates, hospitalization rates and COVID-19 deaths have dropped significantly in Texas communities since January.
But, the COVID-19 virus has not been eradicated. In fact, the virus is continuously changing and searching for new hosts.
So, if you were on the fence about getting the vaccine, and have not yet, why should you get one?
The vaccine protects you and those you love from a life-taking illness.
Since the early 1900’s vaccines have worked to stop life-taking viruses like polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and tetanus.
“Vaccines and antibiotics have been the most profound medical breakthroughs in the 21st century,” said Texas MedClinic Chief Operating Officer and practicing physician Dr. David Gude. “Vaccines and antibiotics save lives.”
COVID-19 Vaccine Myths and Facts
- Myth: The vaccine contains a live virus that will make me sick with COVID-19.
Fact: There is NO live virus in the vaccine; this means that a COVID-19 vaccine CANNOT make you sick with COVID-19. - Myth: I already had COVID-19 and I have recovered, so I don’t need to get a COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available.
Fact: Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that re-infection with COVID-19 is possible, vaccine should be offered to you regardless of whether you already had COVID-19 infection. - Myth: The COVID-19 vaccine was developed to control the general population either through microchip tracking or “nanotransducers” in our brains.Fact: There is no vaccine microchip, and the vaccine will not track people or gather personal information into a database.
- Myth: COVID-19 vaccines will alter my DNA.Fact: The vaccines will not alter your DNA. The Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. According to the CDC, mRNA vaccines work by instructing cells in the body how to make a protein that triggers an immune response. Injecting mRNA into your body will not interact or do anything to the DNA of your cells. Human cells break down and get rid of the mRNA soon after they have finished using the instructions.
- Myth: The COVID-19 vaccine cannot be safe; it was developed too quickly. Fact: The mRNA technology in both the Moderna and Pfizer BioNTech vaccines have been in development for 3 decades.
Hungarian-born scientist Katalin Kariko began mRNA technology development in 1990. Since that time, billions of dollars have been invested in biotech companies where scientists have been working to use the technology to cure cancer. At MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, stage II clinical trials will test if mRNA vaccines can eradicate cancer already in the body for stage two and stage three colon cancer patients who have gotten tumors surgically removed. - Myth: I am allergic to eggs so I shouldn’t get the COVID-19 vaccine.Fact: Neither the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine nor the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines contain egg nor were eggs used the development or production of either vaccine. Those with severe allergic reactions are encouraged to remain after vaccination for 30 minutes for observation.
- Myth: COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility or miscarriage.Fact: No, COVID-19 vaccines have not been linked to infertility or miscarriage.
No viral infection or vaccination-inducing immunity by similar mechanisms has been shown to cause infertility. Antibodies to the spike protein have not been linked to infertility after COVID-19 infection. There is no scientific reason to believe this will change after vaccination for COVID-19.
During natural infection, the immune system generates the same antibodies to the spike protein that COVID-19 vaccines would. Thus, if COVID-19 affected fertility, there already would be an increase in miscarriage rates in women infected with COVID-19. This has not happened.
