COVID-19 Vaccine: Safe & Effective

 
 

If you haven’t done so yet, it is important to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Almost all participants 12 and older, including pregnant women, should receive the vaccine as soon as possible, not only to sharply reduce their chances of being sickened by the virus, but also to protect their families, friends, coworkers and communities.

The CDC now recommends that children between the ages of five and 11 years receive the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine.

The vaccine is well-researched and safe to receive. It works by training the immune system to neutralize the virus if it enters the body. Side effects from receiving the vaccine are usually resolved within two days and include minor reactions such as fatigue, headache and muscle pain.

A small number of people may react allergically to the vaccine, so it is a good idea for those with a history of medical allergies to remain close to the vaccination location for 30 minutes following the injection.

Wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and washing hands also help reduce the virus’ spread, but we must also receive the vaccine in order to get the disease under control. Only through vaccinations can we develop widespread immunity and return to a long-awaited sense of normality.

Routine vaccines also essential

While COVID-19 is foremost in our minds, we mustn’t overlook the importance of routine vaccinations against sicknesses like the flu, pneumonia, measles, tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough. Now is a good time for you to work with your family’s medical providers to be sure everyone is current on all the vaccines needed to stay healthy.

People managing ongoing health issues like diabetes and heart, lung and liver disease especially need to pay close attention to their immunizations.

Vaccines work

15 diseases we’ve controlled thanks to vaccines

  1. Tetanus

  2. Smallpox

  3. Hepatitis B

  4. Hepatitis A

  5. Rubella

  6. HIB (Meningitis)

  7. Measles

  8. Whooping Cough

  9. Pneumococcal Disease

  10. Rotavirus

  11. Mumps

  12. Chickenpox

  13. Diphtheria

  14. Rabies

  15. HPV

Let’s add COVID-19 to the list!