Covid-19 Vaccine: Viable Cure?
“Ring! Ring!” The classroom telephone rings. Hastily picking it up, the teacher quietly murmurs something and stiffly nods her head. She hangs up. Turning to the class, she begins to list the names of students who have to go to the office. Kids grimace and cross their fingers, hoping that they are spared from Covid-19‘s deathly grip. Though no teacher had ever admitted that the calls were for those reasons, after the previous weeks of absent students in each class, the worry had nonetheless been renewed tenfold. The teacher drones on for a few minutes but when you finally think that you are in the clear, the teacher calls your name last. Dread bubbles in your stomach as you walk outside but relief faintly flickers. Thank GOODNESS you got the vaccine!
The vaccine, one of the most disputed on dissension-causing topics there is, as it is intertwined with political beliefs, personal beliefs and trusts, and presidential support. Some say it is essential, as is the flu vaccine. While others say that it is only water, or that it is full of poisonous chemicals and such. But is the vaccine so bad? Is it a viable cure or purely liquid poison?
Symptoms:
Covid-19 had been around for more than two years and with it brought suffering, conspiracies, prejudice, and the vaccine. Of them all, the vaccine is the most disputed. But studies show that the vaccine is not harmful, as it is perceived, but perfectly safe!* The article, “Possible Side Effects After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine” from ** The CDC website states that of the common side effects, if you even acquire any, include tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, nausea and soreness at the site of the shot, all minor symptoms which last only a few days. Further, if in a very rare scenario of having a more major side effect, in which 0.2% of more than four billion are reported of having severe vaccine symptoms, the risk of Covid-19 symptoms and the rate of death heavily outweigh this.
Breakthrough Covid-19:
Additionally, in the rare chance of contracting Covid-19 after vaccination, which is a one percent chance, the symptoms experienced are mild if not nonexistent and will help prevent hospitalization from Covid-related symptoms. Also, receiving the vaccine will also generally reduce dangerous symptoms but, in the case of contracting long-term Covid, which includes fatigue, loss of smell and/or taste, it is usually not worrisome for one’s health, though it may be inconvenient.
Benefits of Getting the Vaccine Shot:
Moreover, appropriating the vaccine shot is important if you have a compromised or weakened immune system, such as if you had any disease prior. This also provides a safety net that ensures that even if you contract Covid-19, it provides a shield and protection, which is good for people and family members who are more severely immunocompromised. Further, getting vaccinated is more efficient than any other method of immunization, as well as a lot safer, and can relate to some health benefits such as increase in immune protection (if you contract Covid and are vaccinated thereafter).The final and most important benefit of getting vaccinated is that, though this is still a theory, if seventy to seventy-five percent of the world’s population gets vaccinated, it would help tramp down additional spread of the virus through herd immunity. So, being vaccinated not only is a shield but a sword that can help end Covid-19’s reign of tyranny.
Different Types of Vaccines:
Though all (approved) types of Covid-19 vaccines are valid to create defense against the virus, these are three types of vaccine brand and information about them.
Pfizer-BioNTech: The first Covid-19 vaccine to be approved, this vaccine is eligible for children of age five and older. It is said to have a 91.3% efficacy against Covid based on how it prevented Covid-19 symptoms after the second shot and may be improved with a booster shot six months after the second shot (paraphrased from YaleMedicine).
Moderna: This vaccine is recommended for adults eighteen and older, and shows a 95% efficacy as of December 2020. It is shown to be a viable protection against the Delta variant (though it is twice as weak), it is thought to be fifty times less effective against the Omicron variant.
Johnson & Johnson: Recommended for adults eighteen and older. It has a 72% efficacy and an overall 84% efficacy against severe disease.
In conclusion, the vaccine is a secure and efficient way to keep you and your loved ones safe from Covid-19. It has moderate to no side effects and has been distributed to more that 4.11 billion people around the world, ensuring approval and safety. But even if you do decide to be vaccinated, please consult with your parents or guardians in addition to checking with your doctor before getting the vaccine. So, have you made your decision? Pro-Vaccine or opposition?
*granted the rare symptoms and side effects
**Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Links to Additional Websites:
https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/covid-19-vaccine-comparison
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/safety-of-vaccines.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/vaccine-benefits.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/expect/after.html
Editors:
Sua Lee and Caleb Yoo
Avid fantasy and mystery novel fanatic, Elise Kim was born on April 7th, 2009 in Shanghai, China, from which she then moved to California at the age of...
