I understand that there are fears and hesitations about the vaccine, but those who are hesitant need to check their facts. The side effects of the shot are minimal and temporary (yes, I did get super tired after my second vaccine and took a bunch of naps, but I hardly missed any work). I know muscle aches and a fever might be a deterrent, but it means the vaccine is doing its job. Additionally, the Johnson & Johnson blood-clot side effect that led to much concern over the vaccine’s safety is incredibly rare — there are only 15 known cases in 8 million people (that would come out to 15 people in, say, all of New York City, if everyone in the city got the vaccine).
A Behavioral Scientist article published in January sums it up well: “Vaccines protect us from infection by stimulating the creation of antibodies to a specific germ. Side effects like fever, chills, fatigue, and muscle pain are a sign of reactogenicity — that is, a physical manifestation of a successful immune response.”
And there is no evidence that the vaccine might hurt your fertility, let’s debunk that right now. I have talked with my friends who are doctors, sifted through Google Scholar articles, and browsed tweets from scientists, and found that the concept of vaccine impeding fertility is nothing more than a myth.
What there is evidence for is that the vaccines are extremely effective against Covid-19. Clinical trials found the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines to be between 94% to 95% effective at preventing Covid-19 infections. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was found to be 66% effective against moderate to severe forms of the disease. In other words, the odds are you are not going to get sick from Covid-19 if you are fully immunized. Additionally, if you do get a vaccination and still get sick, you most likely will not get seriously ill or die from the disease. Pretty sweet deal, right?
It is equally important to note that we young people are a critical population that should be getting vaccinated to prevent prolonging this pandemic. We are far more likely to spend time in social settings with lots of people, going to bars and restaurants, dancing, etc., especially now that the country has started to relax its curfews and restrictions. If the vaccines are highly effective, and young people aren’t getting it, then we will keep spreading Covid-19 amongst ourselves, like we have seen in Michigan where young adults fueled the latest spike in Covid-19 cases.
Is that where we want to be after everything we’ve been through the past year? I don’t think so.
You want to stay healthy, I want to stay healthy, we want our communities safe, and we want to finally get to buy tickets to movies and concerts. To do so, we need to get these vaccinations in our arms. Research shows that they work and side effects are annoying but very minimal.
So go ahead, snap that selfie with a band-aid on your arm to show that you have gotten the vaccine and know that you’ve done good both for yourself and everyone else. Or, if TikTok is your thing, make a fun video after you’ve gotten your shot or create a hilarious explainer video about why vaccines are the best. We can do this, fam.
