Debunking Some Common COVID-19 Vaccination Myths

Many wild theories are swirling around the Covid vaccine. Let’s take a look at what’s real and what’s not.

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

President Joe Biden has announced that all adults in the U.S. should be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting April 19th. Some states have already opened eligibility and others plan to next week.

In my home state of Illinois, vaccination appointments will open up Monday, April 12th and I plan to be at my computer bright and early that morning hunting down an appointment.

The current problem is getting vaccines to the many Americans that want them. But once the initial surge of vaccinations occurs and supply continues to build up, experts are concerned we will end up with a surplus of vaccines and a group of reluctant people.

A recent poll from NPR found that one in four Americans don’t want the vaccine. Experts are worried if enough people don’t get the vaccine, we will never reach herd immunity.

Why are people reluctant? For one thing, some big untruths are circulating about the vaccine. But hopefully, time will show most people that the vaccine is safe and can be trusted. Let’s take a look at debunking some of the most common myths we are hearing now about getting the Covid-19 shot.

Note: I am not an infectious disease specialist. But, I have gathered information from John Hopkins Medicine, the Mayo Clinic, and the Cleveland Clinic to answer some of the most common concerns I have heard about the vaccine.

Here are five common myths I’ve seen floating around versus the facts.

Myth #1: They don’t really know what’s in the shot

Fact: They do know. And we can find out too. How vaccines work is a complex process and can be hard to understand without a medical degree, which is maybe how this myth got started.

If you want a complete list of ingredients, Hackensack Meridian Health has broken it down for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. Click on the link to learn more. They do a great job of breaking it down in a simple manner. If you want the basics, here they are.

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine ingredients:

• mRNA (no, this isn’t DNA, more on that later)
• Lipids
• Salts
• Sugar

Moderna COVID-19 vaccine ingredients:

• mRNA
• Lipids
• Acids
• Acid Stabilizers
• Salts
• Sugar

Myth #2: The Covid vaccine changes your DNA

Fact: This one must come from the mRNA used in the vaccine. DNA is used to make mRNA, but it is not the same thing as DNA, and it will not change your DNA.

mRNA in a vaccine works like this:

1. mRNA enters your bloodstream and instructs your body to make a protein.
2. The protein triggers an immune response.
3. Your cells break down the mRNA and get rid of it once it has given them the instruction for making the protein.

mRNA vaccines teach your body how to defend itself from a virus without ever getting sick from the virus.

Courtesy of the CDC

Myth #3: The development of the vaccine was so rushed that proper testing wasn’t done

Fact: Due to the pandemic, pharmaceutical companies invested massive amounts of time and resources into developing and testing vaccines. But testing was still completed using their rigorous methods, and safety protocols were not overlooked.

The widespread use of mRNA for vaccines may be new, but the technology to create mRNA vaccines had been researched for decades.

Myth #4: The side effects are severe and dangerous

Fact: Some people do have side effects. Others don’t have any issues other than perhaps a sore arm for a day or two. No matter what your side effects are, they are likely to be mild and short-lived. Unlike getting the actual disease.

Myth #5: I don’t need a vaccine if I have already had COVID-19

Fact: Unfortunately, getting Covid-19 does not mean you have lifelong immunity to the disease. You still need a vaccine. The Mayo Clinic does recommend if you have had Covid, waiting 90 days from the time you were diagnosed until you get your vaccine.

Where can you get a vaccine?

In the U.S., you can start by going on the CDC’s website and using their search tool to locate vaccine providers near you.

Talk to your doctor if you have misgivings

It’s absolutely normal and completely healthy to have questions about the vaccine. Look for trusted sources to answer your vaccine questions. Your family doctor is a great place to start for trustworthy information. A one-on-one conversation with a medical professional that you know and trust can go a long way to reducing your fears.