Vaccination Across the Nation!

Alex Gerwe '21

Social Media Coordinator

After over a year with the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccinations are finally being distributed to the public! With medical professionals, essential workers, and immune-compromised Americans becoming vaccinated, a vision of normalcy began to come into view. As of April 15, 2021, every person over the age of 16 is eligible to receive the vaccination. However, many people feel wary about being vaccinated.

After surveying 130 members of the Louisville community, 24 percent responded that they do not plan on receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Though the thought of receiving an only recently developed medicine may sound scary, the CDC does recommend getting it. To alleviate fears about getting the vaccine and to understand the importance, here are some basic things to know!

What do the COVID-19 Vaccines do and how do they work?

In the simplest terms, the vaccines deliver antibodies that help our bodies build immunity to COVID-19 without becoming infected by the virus. Testing positive for the virus after being fully vaccinated is extremely rare.

Why should I get vaccinated?

A COVID-19 vaccination will prevent you from contracting the virus!
Be a good community member! Receiving the vaccine will not only help your personal safety but the safety of others (especially the immune-compromised)! After getting vaccinated, you lessen the chances of spreading the virus to others.

Senior Emily Hurtado receiving her second shot after Kairos

Nina Hernandez ‘21 Snap-Chatted her first dose of vaccination

What vaccines are available?

Currently, three vaccines have been authorized by both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These include:
1. Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
  - The Pfizer vaccine is reportedly 95 percent effective and is an mRNA vaccine (Yale Medicine). After surveying 73 Louisville community members, 54 of those who have received the vaccine responded that they received Pfizer!
2. Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
  - The Moderna vaccine has a 94 percent efficacy rate and is also an mRNA vaccine (Yale Medicine). 12 people from my survey received the Moderna vaccine!
3. Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine (Johnson & Johnson).
  - According to Yale Medicine, The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is 72% Effective and is a carrier vaccine. Two people that were surveyed received this vaccine.

Does the Vaccine cause infertility?

The Australian Department of Health addresses this question: “The theory that COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility is based on the disproven idea that one of the spike proteins in COVID-19 and the Syncytin-1 protein (which help placenta development) are the same. They are not.”. Furthermore, the CDC has also publicly stated that there is no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine or any vaccine causes infertility problems.

Sisters Mia Gordon ‘21 and Ellie Gordon 22’ showing off their bandages after getting vaccinated

What to expect after getting the vaccine:

It is completely normal to experience minor side effects like a fever or migraine in the days after getting the vaccine. Though not fun, side effects should only last around 2 days as opposed to 2 weeks in bed if contracting the virus.

Getting the vaccine ultimately is a personal choice. Though the FDA and CDC both highly recommend receiving the vaccine, it is up to you. Out of the 79 people who have not gotten vaccinated, 60 people from my survey are planning to do so.

Personally, I received my second shot of the Pfizer vaccine recently. What getting the vaccine means to me is being a good community member. The way I see it, since I am vaccinated, I can now prevent spreading the virus to people like my grandparents or other loved ones. I feel safer knowing I will not be the person to cause an outbreak in my community. Also, I have an immune deficiency. Knowing that a friend or family member is getting vaccinated shows me they care about my health. They are preventing giving people like me the virus who are more susceptible to being sick.

If you don’t feel comfortable getting the vaccine, that is your choice. However, it is still your responsibility to social distance, wear a mask and stay at home to be a good community member and stop the spread of COVID-19. If you continue to feel uncomfortable about getting the vaccine, I highly encourage you to continue to research information about the vaccines available. Knowledge is power! Here are some great resources to learn more:

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Food and Drug Administration

Los Angeles County Public Health