COVID-19 Vaccine Info from a pea Nurse.
Jan 28, 2021 19:22:18 GMT
Spongemom Scrappants, scraphappy0501, and 38 more like this
Post by kandie on Jan 28, 2021 19:22:18 GMT
I wrote this for family and friends and posted on facebook. I thought I would share here. I am an RN with 27 years experience and work as an educator at a large teaching hospital in their ambulatory clinics.
Information about the COVID-19 Vaccine
I am sure many of my non-medical friends and family have many questions about the COVID vaccine. You have probably heard a lot of rumors and there is misinformation out there. The goal of this post is to give you information that is true as of this writing. All of my information is from the CDC, FDA and science backed articles.
Operation Warp Speed
The very name is enough to make one go running!!! To me it may scream short cuts were taken!! This is not the case.
First let’s talk about the type of vaccine. In the past, our vaccines were either live weakened virus or inactive virus. These were injected so that our body’s cells saw them as a foreign threat and accordingly developed antibodies to them, thus giving us immunity.
The COVID 19 vaccines are not made from weakened or live virus at all. These vaccines are mRNA vaccines. Messenger RNA. The mRNA, in the case of the vaccine, tells our cells to develop a protein spike. This spike is the same as the protein spike on the cells of the COVID virus. Our body sees the protein spike as a threat, develops antibodies and thus we are protected against COVID. The spikes is then discarded by our body.
This mRNA does NOT change or affect our DNA at all.
mRNA is not a new science, in fact scientists have been studying mRNA for vaccines for decades. It is a very exciting science!!!
Let’s talk about this warp speed thing…. As I said above, no corners were cut. Typically when getting approval for something like a vaccine, it has to go through many channels for approval at each stage. Those approvers may only review things a few times a year. Depending on how many things are on that list, it may take a couple of years to move to the top of the list. Also, our scientists are working on many projects at once. Warp speed cut the red tape. Scientists solely focused on the COVID vaccine. At each approval stage the vaccine moved to the top of the list and the approvers got together to review it in priority time. That is the warp speed part. No corners cut, the same strict scientific criteria was upheld.
Who Should or Shouldn’t Get The Vaccine?
Everyone should get it!!! (With a few exceptions). Of course there is a supply issue so this resulted in phased administration, giving it to the front line medical workers and first responders first as well as those residing and working in long term care facilities.
But I Have Allergies (season, medication allergies, egg allergies etc.)
You can get the vaccine if you have allergies except if you are allergic to polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.
If you have had a severe anaphylactic reaction to a vaccine in the past (example: your throat closed up in minutes and you couldn’t breathe). You need to discuss with your Doctor he/she may recommend you receive your vaccine at an allergist office or not at all.
Other Considerations
The vaccine was not “tested” on those under 16, so at this time they can’t get the vaccine. It doesn’t mean at all that it won’t be safe for children, it is just that we need more time to conduct vaccine trials.
Pregnant women were not part of the trial. Again doesn’t mean it isn’t safe however, she needs to talk to her OBGYN about when to get the vaccine.
Immune Compromised People
If you are taking medication that affects your immune system (on cancer treatment, on immune lowering medication) please contact your PCP.
If you have received a different vaccine (flu, tetanus etc) recently, you should wait for 2 weeks to get the COVID vaccine
When You Get Your Vaccine
Please wear a tank top or short sleeved shirt. Make sure it is a shirt with a loose short sleeve as you want to be sure you get your vaccine appropriately. The vaccinator needs to be able to see your shoulder and entire upper arm in order to direct that need to the best spot.
Be prepared to sit at the vaccination clinic for at least 15 minutes. Severe anaphylactic reactions typically occur within minutes. The vaccination clinic will have medication to help if this were to happen to someone.
The news have been reporting some people with severe anaphylactic reactions. The medical community expected this to happen. This is a tiny risk with any vaccine. It is nothing we have not seen before. It is rare but does happen.
Vaccine Side Effects
There is a good chance that you will have a side effect to the vaccine. This is actually your wonderful immune system doing its job!! You cannot get COVID from the vaccine. You may get any one of these symptoms, which can occur several hours after the vaccine and last a up to a few days:
Pain at the injection site
Slight swelling at the injection site
Redness at the injection site
Chills
Tiredness
Headache
Low grade fever
These symptoms could be a little worse after you second vaccine dose but far out way the risk of getting COVID-19 and becoming terribly sick.
Benefits of the Vaccine:
You have a very low chance of getting COVID-19
Hopefully we can get to herd immunity
We can be that much closer to a normal life!!!
I Had The Vaccine, Why Do I Still Have To Wear a Mask?
We do not have enough information at this time as to whether or not you can still carry and give to someone else the COVID-19 virus. Science is still gathering data on this. Thus it is important to continue mask wearing and social distancing, most likely until we reach herd immunity.
I hope this helps someone!!
I was vaccinated, please plan on getting vaccinated if you can!
Information about the COVID-19 Vaccine
I am sure many of my non-medical friends and family have many questions about the COVID vaccine. You have probably heard a lot of rumors and there is misinformation out there. The goal of this post is to give you information that is true as of this writing. All of my information is from the CDC, FDA and science backed articles.
Operation Warp Speed
The very name is enough to make one go running!!! To me it may scream short cuts were taken!! This is not the case.
First let’s talk about the type of vaccine. In the past, our vaccines were either live weakened virus or inactive virus. These were injected so that our body’s cells saw them as a foreign threat and accordingly developed antibodies to them, thus giving us immunity.
The COVID 19 vaccines are not made from weakened or live virus at all. These vaccines are mRNA vaccines. Messenger RNA. The mRNA, in the case of the vaccine, tells our cells to develop a protein spike. This spike is the same as the protein spike on the cells of the COVID virus. Our body sees the protein spike as a threat, develops antibodies and thus we are protected against COVID. The spikes is then discarded by our body.
This mRNA does NOT change or affect our DNA at all.
mRNA is not a new science, in fact scientists have been studying mRNA for vaccines for decades. It is a very exciting science!!!
Let’s talk about this warp speed thing…. As I said above, no corners were cut. Typically when getting approval for something like a vaccine, it has to go through many channels for approval at each stage. Those approvers may only review things a few times a year. Depending on how many things are on that list, it may take a couple of years to move to the top of the list. Also, our scientists are working on many projects at once. Warp speed cut the red tape. Scientists solely focused on the COVID vaccine. At each approval stage the vaccine moved to the top of the list and the approvers got together to review it in priority time. That is the warp speed part. No corners cut, the same strict scientific criteria was upheld.
Who Should or Shouldn’t Get The Vaccine?
Everyone should get it!!! (With a few exceptions). Of course there is a supply issue so this resulted in phased administration, giving it to the front line medical workers and first responders first as well as those residing and working in long term care facilities.
But I Have Allergies (season, medication allergies, egg allergies etc.)
You can get the vaccine if you have allergies except if you are allergic to polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.
If you have had a severe anaphylactic reaction to a vaccine in the past (example: your throat closed up in minutes and you couldn’t breathe). You need to discuss with your Doctor he/she may recommend you receive your vaccine at an allergist office or not at all.
Other Considerations
The vaccine was not “tested” on those under 16, so at this time they can’t get the vaccine. It doesn’t mean at all that it won’t be safe for children, it is just that we need more time to conduct vaccine trials.
Pregnant women were not part of the trial. Again doesn’t mean it isn’t safe however, she needs to talk to her OBGYN about when to get the vaccine.
Immune Compromised People
If you are taking medication that affects your immune system (on cancer treatment, on immune lowering medication) please contact your PCP.
If you have received a different vaccine (flu, tetanus etc) recently, you should wait for 2 weeks to get the COVID vaccine
When You Get Your Vaccine
Please wear a tank top or short sleeved shirt. Make sure it is a shirt with a loose short sleeve as you want to be sure you get your vaccine appropriately. The vaccinator needs to be able to see your shoulder and entire upper arm in order to direct that need to the best spot.
Be prepared to sit at the vaccination clinic for at least 15 minutes. Severe anaphylactic reactions typically occur within minutes. The vaccination clinic will have medication to help if this were to happen to someone.
The news have been reporting some people with severe anaphylactic reactions. The medical community expected this to happen. This is a tiny risk with any vaccine. It is nothing we have not seen before. It is rare but does happen.
Vaccine Side Effects
There is a good chance that you will have a side effect to the vaccine. This is actually your wonderful immune system doing its job!! You cannot get COVID from the vaccine. You may get any one of these symptoms, which can occur several hours after the vaccine and last a up to a few days:
Pain at the injection site
Slight swelling at the injection site
Redness at the injection site
Chills
Tiredness
Headache
Low grade fever
These symptoms could be a little worse after you second vaccine dose but far out way the risk of getting COVID-19 and becoming terribly sick.
Benefits of the Vaccine:
You have a very low chance of getting COVID-19
Hopefully we can get to herd immunity
We can be that much closer to a normal life!!!
I Had The Vaccine, Why Do I Still Have To Wear a Mask?
We do not have enough information at this time as to whether or not you can still carry and give to someone else the COVID-19 virus. Science is still gathering data on this. Thus it is important to continue mask wearing and social distancing, most likely until we reach herd immunity.
I hope this helps someone!!
I was vaccinated, please plan on getting vaccinated if you can!
