Benefits of Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine

As COVID-19 continues to spread across the country, and the news of promising vaccines being reviewed for approval, many people are wondering when these new vaccines will be available.

The Wall Street Journal reported that on Tuesday, December 8, 2020, the U.K. became the first Western country to start inoculating its population with a Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc. and Germany’s BioNTech SE. The UK and the US approve vaccines in different ways. The UK relies on data provided by the drug maker, while the US relies on the Federal Drug Administration to review raw data before deeming it safe.

The FDA is planning to review the vaccine on December 10th and hopefully approve it soon after.

With any new vaccine, comes many new questions and concerns. Is it safe? Who will get it first? Will there be enough for everyone? I feel fine, do I need to take it?

The 3 Main Benefits of Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine

Based on what the CDC knows, here is a summary of the 3 main benefits of getting the COVID-19 vaccination:

  1. COVID-19 vaccination will help keep you from getting COVID-19
    All the COVID-19 vaccines are being carefully evaluated in clinical trials and will be authorized or approved only if they make it substantially less likely you’ll get COVID-19. Like the flu vaccine, the goal of the COVID-19 vaccine is to help people keep from getting seriously ill if they contract the virus. Also, getting vaccinated may help to protect people around you, and help contribute to stopping or controlling the virus spreading.
  2. COVID-19 vaccination will be a safer way to help build protection
    For some people, the virus can have serious, life-threatening complications. The concern is that there is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you, and if you get sick, you could spread the disease to friends, family, and others around you, who may have underlying health issues that could make them a higher risk of complications.Herd immunity has been suggested as a way for people to have their body create a response to the virus naturally. According to the World Health Organization, herd immunity is a concept used for vaccination, in which a population can be protected from a certain virus if a threshold of vaccination is reached. This would remove the need for all people to become vaccinated. The main concern with herd immunity is the potential of more lives being lost while a population tries to reach the needed immunity level for it to be safe for all.
  3. COVID-19 vaccination will be an important tool to help stop the pandemic
    Wearing masks and social distancing help reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others, but these measures are not enough. Vaccines will work with your immune system so it will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed. The combination of getting vaccinated and following CDC’s recommendations to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from COVID-19.

Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines

The COVID-10 pandemic has caused many concerns regarding our health and wellbeing. As vaccines are being developed and under review for widespread use, there are also concerns with how the vaccine will affect us physically.

According to the CDC, here are some facts to consider and to help dispel the concern about getting vaccinated.

 

  • FACT: COVID-19 vaccines will not give you COVID-19
    None of the COVID-19 vaccines currently in development in the United States use the live virus that causes COVID-19.
  • FACT: COVID-19 vaccines will not cause you to test positive on COVID-19 viral tests

Vaccines currently in clinical trials in the United States won’t cause you to test positive on viral tests, which are used to see if you have a current infection.

  • FACT: People who have gotten sick with COVID-19 may still benefit from getting vaccinated

Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that re-infection with COVID-19 is possible, people may be advised to get a COVID-19 vaccine even if they have been sick with COVID-19 before.

  • FACT: Getting vaccinated can help prevent getting sick with COVID-19
    COVID-19 vaccination helps protect you by creating an antibody response without having to experience sickness.
  • FACT: Receiving an mRNA vaccine will not alter your DNA

mRNA stands for messenger ribonucleic acid and can most easily be described as instructions for how to make a protein or even just a piece of a protein. mRNA is not able to alter or modify a person’s genetic makeup (DNA).

We’re Here to Help

In these challenging times, the risk of exposure is more prevalent than ever. We offer the following safety service options:

COVID-19 CONSULTING BUNDLE – Written directive/policy on requirements which can be either a corporate policy or a site-specific policy.

COVID-19 TRAINING (INFECTION CONTROL WEBINAR) – We offer Open Enrollment Classes and Private Company Sponsored Classes made available at your convenience.

COVID19 TESTING – We now offer COVID-19 Testing Services For Colleges, Universities, Private Companies, And Public Agencies

If you have concerns about your workforce and coronavirus, please contact us today to learn about steps you can take to protect yourself, your family, and your employees.