Dear Carolyn,
What do you think about the coronavirus vaccine? I am kind of nervous about getting it.
Thanks, John
Dear John,
It’s completely understandable to be nervous about the new coronavirus vaccines, especially for people who generally don’t take medications. There are several things about the vaccine, however, that I feel can help allay those fears.
The two main vaccines we have available, those by Moderna and Pfizer, are known as mRNA vaccines, which are different from the vaccines we have had in the past. Most vaccines that we’re familiar with use dead or inactivated viruses in a vaccine to help our body to be able to fight off that same virus if we encounter it.
These new mRNA vaccines are not made like that, and don’t contain any virus particles. Instead, they help our immune system to be able to recognize a special protein that is on the outside of the COVID-19 virus. The vaccine works by creating that protein in our body, which the immune system can then recognize as something that doesn’t belong and can mount a defense against it. Then later, if we do encounter the coronavirus, our immune system right away can recognize the virus and will already have the tools to fight it off. After getting the vaccine, and after the body makes that special protein, the vaccine is broken down- it doesn’t stay in the body, the only thing is does it to make a small amount of that special protein that’s found on the outside of the coronavirus so our body is ready and has the tools to prevent infections if it sees the COVID-19 virus.
Something else that’s important to know, is that while these specific vaccines were developed relatively quickly, this mRNA technology has actually been in the works for nearly thirty years, and is a really exciting development to make new vaccines and therapies for illnesses that have had no cure, and is right now being worked on for a possible therapy or even a vaccine for cancer, MS, HIV, and more. Science is amazing, and I’m grateful to those researchers who have dedicated their lives to helping to reduce human suffering.
The other thing to think of is that the coronavirus is no joke. If a new vaccine came out for the common cold, I’d be impressed, but I wouldn’t sign up right away, since while a cold is annoying, it’s not life threatening. COVID and this pandemic are completely different. So many people have died, and for those who recover, many can experience long term damage to the lungs, heart, and more. So I feel like any possible risk of the vaccine is overshadowed by the very real threat that the coronavirus poses. Also remember, by this point millions and millions of people have received the vaccine without a problem.
Additionally, there have been concerns in the past about some vaccines containing thimerosal or mercury, though neither the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine contain those or any other preservatives (which may be part of the reason it needs to be stored in sub zero temperatures). I just wanted to mention it, since I know thimerosal has been an issue for some.
COVID-19 has literally stopped normal life. These vaccines are the way for things to get back to normal. We can’t live like this forever, and the more people that get vaccinated, the faster we can return to our lives, and in doing so, many lives will be saved as well. Getting the vaccine is also an act of service in a way, since it is us doing our part to help to reduce the spread, reduce infections, and make things better.
Another thing the vaccine can help with is preventing mutations. Mutations in the coronavirus are a real problem, since a mutation in the virus can change it to make it more contagious or even more deadly. The more people that are vaccinated, the fewer amount of people will be infected, which means that the virus will have less of a chance to mutate.
Virus types like COVID-19 are known for their ability to mutate, just like how the flu does. There are concerns about vaccine effectiveness with these new mutations, and some wonder if it’s even worth it to get vaccinated since there are new virus strains evolving. The good news is the vaccines by Moderna and Pfizer have such a high rate of effectiveness against the coronavirus (both are around 95% effective against the original virus), that even a modest decrease in that effectiveness gives a positive outcome.
When the vaccines were still being developed, health experts were hoping for a vaccine that would be around 80% effective. Thankfully, the vaccines that were developed were a lot better than that, so even a lowering of effectiveness for possible new strains still leaves us in decent shape. Additionally, researchers are working on possible boosters for emerging strains to offer added protection. There’s still a lot we don’t know. It might be that every year we might have to get a booster shot to stay protected. Some researchers have speculated that over time, maybe in a decade, the coronavirus might still be around but with developed immunity may become a form that causes only mild illness, like the common cold; only time will tell.
I completely understand the anxiety about getting the vaccine, though I believe it’s the right thing to do, and I also think there is a lot of misinformation going around regarding the vaccine, which doesn’t help.
Hopefully this article has explained things a bit, and I hope might make someone a little less fearful of getting vaccinated. We need life to get back to normal, beyond just the selfish reasons of how I’d like to go to a restaurant or a play without worrying; there are real problems this pandemic has caused, for children who can’t be in school, for nursing home and older family members who are feeling more isolated than ever, and for the unprecedented rise in mental health issues that many people are experiencing. We need our regular lives back, and realistically, that is not going to happen without the vast majority of people getting vaccinated.
I know I usually write about supplements, so this is a departure from the norm, but when I saw this question I thought it was worth responding to. We do have lots of great supplements for the immune system at the store, and definitely recommend that everyone take a quality vitamin D, zinc, and vitamin C supplement right now (there are others of course, but I’d say those are the big three). Stop by Pass Health Foods if we can answer any questions for you, we love helping people find natural products that can help a person’s specific needs.
Carolyn Johnson is one of the owners at Pass Health Foods at 7228 W. College Drive. Feel free to stop by the store for more information or advice, or look on our website at www.passhealthfoods.com. Pass Health Foods has a very kind and knowledgeable staff.
This column makes no claims to diagnose, treat, prevent, mitigate, or cure diseases with any advice or products. Any health related information in this article is for educational purposes only. If you’d like to submit a question for an upcoming column, email us at passhealthfoods@gmail.com and put Healthy Answers in the subject line. Be well!