This Is Our Shot

 This Is Our Shot

By Myrene Aductante

Over the years, Covid-19 has affected thousands and millions of people's lives. COVID-19, short for Coronavirus disease 2019, was first identified in Wuhan, China, back in December 2019. People are losing their jobs; schools have closed, businesses have shuttered, events are postponed, flights are canceled, people risking their lives, etc. Everyone, all around the world, has been affected by this pandemic. Everyone is afraid for themselves and their loved ones. The things that we do in our daily lives have completely changed. We may not be aware of it, but some people may be going through something more difficult than we do right now. It is a new virus that directly has affected, and worst killed, millions of people worldwide. People infected by this virus may have the following symptoms: Fever or chills,

cough or sore throat, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, etc. If someone shows any of these signs, seek medical care and do the swab test immediately. We all already know that COVID-19 can be transmitted through respiratory droplets, so when an infected person speaks, coughs, or sneezes, the virus is easily transferred to another. It is why wearing a mask is highly recommended wherever you go. It can also be transmitted by touching your eyes, nose, or mouth after being in contact with or touching a contaminated surface or objects, so washing your hands with soap is essential or using a hand sanitizer before and after doing anything else.

Fortunately, researchers and scientists have developed COVID-19 vaccines that are now readily available to eligible. There are currently three COVID-19 vaccines being distributed: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson / Janssen. These vaccines are free of charge to all people living in the United States, and there are several vaccination sites available where you could get the vaccine. The vaccines are being given to individuals according to tier, and some require two shots. Once an individual gets their first shot of the vaccine, they have to wait for another three weeks for Pfizer-BioNtech and one month for Moderna to get the second shot. In the United States, COVID-19 vaccines are currently limited, so each state gets to decide which groups of people will be vaccinated first, but with CDC's recommendation based on their Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Some of the common side effects after getting the vaccine are muscle pain or swelling in the arm, headache, fever, and nausea, which are typical signs showing that your body is building protection against the virus. These side effects will go away in a few days. However, another reminder that even if you are fully vaccinated, you should still follow the COVID-19 protocols, including wearing your mask and staying 6 ft apart from people, especially in public places.

Although the COVID-19 vaccines have already been proven safe and effective, many are still afraid of taking the vaccine. I understand their concern and hesitation in getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Creating a new vaccine usually takes years to be fully developed and ensure its usage safety before distributing it to the public. Due to COVID-19 vaccines' rapid research development, many are concerned that these vaccines were rushed and questioned their effectiveness. Some people are hesitant to get the vaccine because of some misinformation and inaccurate reports spreading online, making it difficult to convince the public to get the vaccine. Starting April 2020, the Delphi Group at Carnegie Mellon University surveyed people's attitudes towards coronavirus and the vaccines, which has collected about 18 million responses. The data has shown that from 72% rising to 77%, people are willing to take the vaccines while hesitant people remain constant at around 23%.

They have also conducted a survey 

that shows the reasons why many are still hesitant to get the vaccines. As you can see, the data shows that 45% are concerned about the side effects of the vaccine, while 40% are waiting to see if they are safe.

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), millions of people have already received the COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. The only exemptions for those who should not get the COVID-19 vaccine are people who had a severe or immediate allergic reaction. Anaphylaxis, a type of severe allergic reaction, happens to people within 30 minutes after getting the vaccine, but this is a rare case. Approximately 2 to 5 people per million experienced this based on the reports to VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System). Fortunately, vaccination providers have medicines available to treat an individual who experiences it immediately. So, It's better to consult a doctor and ask if you should get a different type of COVID-19 vaccine. VAERS has also reviewed that there are zero death reports to date after getting the vaccine. Some of the reasons why you should get the COVID-19 vaccine are:

• It will keep you from getting COVID-19 as the vaccines will fight the virus if you are exposed

• It will prevent you from becoming seriously ill

• While you are protecting yourself by getting the vaccine, you're also protecting the people around you

• The vaccines are available and free in the United States, and it is recommended to get them as soon as you are eligible

For this blog, I was going to talk about something else, but due to the current situation we have, I think the COVID-19 issue is the one that is significantly affecting me right now. As a college student, it also has been a tough time for me. It’s been hard to focus on my studies at home, and I procrastinated a lot from before. It’s really hard to explain, but I just felt like I couldn’t do anything else. I’m aware that it’s slowly affecting my mental health, so I’m trying to divert my attention to something that could help clear my head and get away from stress. Another hard part for us is that my mom had to stop working. Her work was positive of COVID-19, so she was scared that she might get infected at work and passed it on. Whenever we buy groceries outside or receive packages from online shopping, we frequently clean and disinfect them before using and storing them. We also bought vitamins that can help boost up our immune system for extra protection. It is just sad to see news about people still doing large gatherings or partying while the virus is still around. Sometimes, I still see some people who don’t wear masks while they are in public. 

Overall, being informed about COVID-19 vaccines is very important. It is suggested that you read or watch news about COVID-19 and ensure that you get the information from reliable resources. These vaccines are effective for individuals, but they are most effective once everyone has received one. Wearing your masks and maintaining social distance will help reduce the spread of the virus; however, this is not enough. Getting the vaccine will help drop COVID-19 cases and remain low until enough people aren’t susceptible to transmitting the virus to others. While we’re going through the process, it is important to continue following the safety protocols. These simple ways of taking precautions as an individual are not only protecting you and your community, but a step to help us end this pandemic. 

References:

Molla, Rani. “Who Isn't Getting Vaccinated, and Why.” Vox, Vox, 15 Mar. 2021, www.vox.com/recode/22330018/covid-vaccine-hesitancy-misinformation-carnegie-mellon-facebook-survey.

“Selected Adverse Events Reported after COVID-19 Vaccination.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/adverse-events.html#:~:text=COVID%2D19%20vaccines%20are,as%20you%20are%20eligible.

“Understanding MRNA COVID-19 Vaccines.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mrna.html.