Facts about Covid 19 Vaccine

KC Bellin NP • February 17, 2021

Are you on the fence about getting the Covid vaccine?

Let’s discuss some common questions.

If you are like most people, you are aware that the rollout with the Covid vaccine has been well underway for months. Perhaps you fall into a category that is eligible to receive this vaccine and wonder if it is something you should do.  
• How does it work? 
• How can they rush a vaccine and expect it to be safe?
• What are possible side effects?
• How is it given and how many vaccines do you receive? 
• If I’ve had the Covid 19 virus should I still get the vaccine?

Let’s discuss these points to help you with your decision and ease your mind.

First, there are two vaccines available: Moderna and Pfizer. Both of these vaccines are made with mRNA, and both are equally good.
How does mRNA work?  
• mRNA is different from traditional vaccines and works slightly differently as well. In the conventional vaccine, the antigen (or to be more clear, a piece of the virus) is injected into the body, which then will make antibodies to that specific virus and protect the body next time it is exposed to that virus.
• mRNA vaccines use RNA as a means to provide instructions to the body’s cells to produce antigens. How does it do this? It uses pieces of a specific encoded protein (the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein) to spark an immune response.
• With the Covid vaccine, once your body creates that immune response as described above, both the protein and mRNA are eliminated while the antibodies continue to protect your body.

Does the Flu vaccine use mRNA?

• No, the flu vaccine is conventional, and is made from viruses grown in chicken eggs or other mammalian cells, according to Pfizer. Nothing live is injected with this virus. The dead viral fragments stimulate the body to fight off infection.
• No virus is needed to make a batch of mRNA vaccine, although they do access a small amount of the virus for gene sequencing and vaccine testing)

It was made so quickly; is it REALLY safe?

• The FDA granted approval to distribute the vaccine in early December. Since it is not conventional and instead uses mRNA, it “teaches” our body to recognize these spikes and attack if exposed in the future.
• The entire dead virus is not injected into you. Only the spike protein – this is why you CANNOT get Covid from this vaccine.

Side Effects:

• Side effects are pretty typical of any vaccine. Expect the possibility of a sore arm, redness at the injection site, muscle aches and pains, possible flu like symptoms, and headache. 
• Having these symptoms does NOT mean you have Covid. It lets you know your body is working hard to develop an immune response – in other words, this should be viewed as normal!

How many shots will I have to get?

• Each vaccine/shot will need to be given twice. The time span in between will be determined by which vaccine you receive.

I’ve had Covid, so I have natural immunity right? I don’t need the vaccine, right?

• At this time, the CDC states there is not enough evidence to show how long natural immunity lasts. In other words, you may still be able to get the virus and get ill. 
• Receiving the vaccine allows your body to respond to the mRNA without enduring a second round of illness!
• Mutations or changes, are expected of this virus. The vaccine is still determined to be efficient!



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