Busting 7 Different Covid-19 Vaccine Myths
People are concerned about getting the Covid-19 vaccine. This is understandable since the vaccine was developed so quickly. Distrust of vaccines has been a hot topic and can muddy the information surrounding the vaccine. Let’s debunk some popular Covid-19 vaccine myths.
7 Different Covid-19 Myths that Aren’t True
These myths have been confirmed by experts as false.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve had the virus or not, everyone should get vaccinated. Even if you’ve had it, it’s unknown how long a person is protected from getting the virus again.
- You Can Choose Which Vaccine You Get
While there are 3 different vaccines authorized for use in the U.S., we can’t choose what vaccine we get. We aren’t part of the vaccine distribution process as individuals and only certain vaccines will be available at different sites.
Luckily, all the vaccines are extremely effective at preventing severe forms of the virus.
Know that if you have an allergy to one of the ingredients in a vaccine, that’s a different story.
- It Causes Infertility
This is a completely made-up statement, there’s no evidence supporting this. There have been Facebook posts saying the vaccine contains a spike protein called syncytin-1, which is connected to the function of the placenta. It’s been confirmed by experts as completely untrue.
- You Don’t Need the Vaccine if You’ve Already had the Coronavirus
It doesn’t matter if you’ve had the virus or not, everyone should get vaccinated. Even if you’ve had it, it’s unknown how long a person is protected from getting the virus again.
- You Can Stop Wearing Masks After Getting the Vaccine
This is based on half-truths. The CDC has put out guidelines that fully vaccinated people can stop wearing masks in these specific situations
Being indoors with other fully vaccinated people
Being indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household and are low risk for developing severe complications from the virus
It’s still important to wear masks in public and with other unvaccinated people. It’s still not known if you can pass the virus to others after being vaccinated.
- The Vaccine Gives You the Virus or Makes You Test Positive
The vaccines either contain the code to help your body make the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein or a modified version of the virus. None of the vaccines contain the full virus, therefore won’t give you the virus or a false positive.
- The Vaccines were Rushed, Therefore Unsafe
While done faster than expected, the Covid-19 vaccines went through the same processes that other vaccines do. There was a combination of more funding, public awareness, and already having the original SARS virus to work off of to make this happen so quickly.
- The Vaccine Will Alter Your DNA
This another claim that has no evidence to prove it. For something to alter your DNA, it needs to go into the nuclear membrane of your cells. None of the vaccines have that ability.
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