Vaccine truths for COVID-19 vaccinations. Some truths might be hard to find with all the fake news stories circulating on the Internet, television news, and word-of-mouth. Thus, Florida Lung, Asthma, and Sleep Specialists are publishing true and much-needed keys to understanding the vaccines available for COVID-19. Also, check out previous blogs for information on this topic.
Vaccine Truths: Keys to Understanding
Here at FLASS, you are family. And so we are sharing the absolute verifiable medical facts about vaccines. These are exactly the same, identical truths we share and discuss with our own beloved families.
And your doctors, healthcare providers, and staff are here to invite you to discuss your COVID-19 vaccination concerns with us in complete confidence and security.
The Top Vaccine Truths We Recommend
- First and foremost the vaccine truth we most embrace is that vaccines are effective. They are effective at protecting you and your loved ones against severe disease and death from the COVID-19 virus.
- Secondly, the available COVID-19 vaccines will help protect you “against severe disease and death from COVID-19 variants of the virus.” And Yes, this includes the “Delta variant.” Recently, the CDC warned us about variants, saying, “Variants are expected.”
An Important and Oft-Forgotten Detail
They added, “The best way to slow the emergence of new variants is to reduce the spread of infection. This means “taking measures to protect yourself including getting a COVID-19 vaccine when available.”
Special Note: There is one detail that many do not understand. It is a scientific fact that the more of us who are vaccinated, the fewer variants will evolve. Additionally, the spread of infection will decrease. Read more in this CDC article if you worry about variants: What You Need to Know about Variants | CDC
Returning to Life Activities After Vaccine: Truth Number 3
- The third vaccine truth is that about once you are fully vaccinated, you can certainly return to your life activities. However, due to variants spread by unvaccinated individuals, it is still necessary to wear a mask indoors in high-risk areas. This procedure simply protects you from the Delta variant and any new variants out there. (A nice side benefit is a little extra layer of cold and flu protection. Masks help protect you from sneezes and coughs from common colds and flu variations.)
4. Truth Number Four: “Fully Vaccinated” Means Two Shots with Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.
Vaccines protect you “two weeks after your second shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine…” Likewise, “fully vaccinated applies only “two weeks after the single-dose J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.”
Meanwhile, wear a mask and social distance until your two weeks have passed.
5. Side Effects Happen—It’s One of the Vaccine Truths
We don’t want you to have an anxiety attack if you get a COVID-19 vaccine and feel a little woozy and under-the-weather for a short time thereafter. Experts at the CDC state, “These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities…” “but they should go away in a few days. Some people have no side effects.”
So, we at FLASS advise you, it’s normal to feel a little feverish, or experience chills, headache, and nausea after the COVID-19 vaccine. Take it from your truthful FLASS doctors. Put simply, these reactions are just your body letting you know it’s building protection for you. Thus we have revealed the four most solid vaccine Truths.
Vaccine Truths vs. Research: Studying The Gray Areas
We are still searching for answers when it comes to some vaccine details. Misunderstandings occur in the media when people make assumptions about medical statistics that cannot yet be measured.
We implore our listeners to be aware: medical and statistical truths in flux, as the disease continues to shadow our lives.
We do not want to be accused of contradictions as time changes and research solidifies. So we treat our readers like adults. We let you know the “gray” areas in regard to Vaccine truths.
The Vaccine Gray Areas
- Truthfully, the CDC does not at the current time understand completely how well the vaccines will protect folks with weakened immune systems. But the booster makes sense if you are in this group and it’s been 6 months since your first two doses of vaccine.
After a short misunderstanding on the part of the government, they now agree with the CDC recommendation. The CDC announced the high-risk group should take “A third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine six months after full vaccination…” They characterized the group to be made up of “people age 65 and older and those at high risk of severe COVID-19.”
2. Our Second Gray Area: Boosters for Folks under 65
Currently, we are brave enough to admit, just as the CDC states, “There isn’t sufficient evidence to show boosters for people under 65 are necessary.”
This fact has been corroborated by the Food and Drug Administration’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee. And FLASS adds that the group might be enlarged or amended as time goes on and our data builds up to definitive conclusions.
3. Who is at High Risk? The Slightly Gray Area Number Three
Not only the people over 65 and people with immune diseases are in the high-risk group. Those at high risk for catching COVID-19, also include “health care workers, first responders and people likely to be exposed to the virus at work.
So, we recommend you get your booster 6 months after you are fully vaccinated if you fit in this group.
4. How Long Can the Vaccine Protect Us? A Much-Debated Gray Area
Neither the CDC nor FLASS is going to put a time limit on how long COVID-19 vaccines can protect people. Research is continuing in this area. Additionally, the vaccine truths about how long protection lasts will be revealed, even as it happens in the future.
5. Another Shadowy Area for Finding Vaccine Truth: The Population Immunity Theory
Even immunologists engaged in research do not know exactly how many people must be vaccinated against COVID-19 before we assume the US or humanity itself is protected. Again, research will find the answer to this question in time.
Meanwhile, all we can give you is the CDC definition, not precise numbers. “Population immunity” is also known as “herd immunity or community immunity.” This means that enough people in a community are protected from getting a disease because they’ve already had the disease or because they’ve been vaccinated.” Learn more at Key Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines (cdc.gov).
Terrific Take-Aways from Vaccine Truths
Our final, significant advice to you: If you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine truths, turn to your doctors. Discuss your personal situation with the doctors you trust.
We hope you decide to get vaccinated. It could save your life and the lives around you. That’s our vaccine truth at FLASS.