Is the COVID Vaccine Safe?

When it comes to the COVID-19 Vaccine, the simplest decisions have become complex as a result of the pandemic. Actions once done without hesitation now require exhaustive consideration of involved risks and unknown outcomes. Unfortunately, this indecisiveness has expanded to include resistance of the COVID vaccination. It’s understandable. A quickly created vaccine for a new virus may cause anyone to ask “Is the COVID vaccine safe?”, even if that virus is deadly.

Through virtual town hall presentations, expert insight, and extensive research, Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation (PAHWF) has been working to share updated, trustworthy information with our community.

Ease Your Mind: Current Covid Vaccine Facts

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

FACT: More than 131 million Americans have received the COVID-19 vaccine from December 14 through April 20.

FACT: Tens of thousands participated in clinical trials during the vaccine’s rigorous scientific development.

FACT: COVID-19 vaccines meet the FDA’s demanding standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality needed for emergency use authorization.

Find more facts on the safety and efficacy of available vaccines.

Begin Your New Normal

The COVID vaccines cannot guarantee 100 percent effectiveness against contracting COVID-19. However, they are highly effective at prevention. More importantly, these vaccines are considered very effective at preventing the severe cases that result in hospitalization and even death.

Montgomery County’s Pottstown vaccination site is up and running and registration is available on the County’s website. The vaccine is also available through Tower Health, the Pottstown NAACP, and Community Health & Dental Care and local pharmacies. The COVID-19 vaccine is completely free, whether you have insurance or not.

For many, vaccination is the first step to getting your life back. Visit the CDC’s post-vaccination guidelines for keeping safe.

The sooner you get vaccinated, the sooner you can share those long-awaited hugs with your loved ones.

Ignore the Noise of COVID Vaccine Misinformation

We live in a time of incredible news dissemination. Anyone can report on anything, regardless of their credentials—or lack thereof. There also is an ingrained assumption that “If it’s in print, it must be true.”

Falsehoods gain momentum and credibility through fast, easy click-and-share technology. Misinformation is quickly spread and readily believed. (After all, this article/post/blog was shared by a cousin who once worked in a hospital.) In times of fear, such as during a pandemic, people grab at these tidbits in an attempt to gain control and make sense of the unthinkable.

Covid Vaccine Myths: A Squirrelly Theory

The COVID vaccine has been a debated subject. Like many aspects of the pandemic, the unknown generates speculations along with outright fabrications.

One infectious disease expert emphasized the lack of evidence found in the anti-vaccine myths. He confirmed there is as much truth to these vaccine rumors as saying “the COVID-19 vaccine turns you into a squirrel.” Always consider your source. These vaccines have been thoroughly tested and proven safe by reputable health officials.

The most common COVID myths surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine have been addressed by the CDC. Here’s a quick summary.

The COVID-19 vaccine will not:

  • make you sick with COVID-19.
  • cause a positive COVID-19 virus test result.
  • alter your DNA. (Got Grandpa’s balding gene? This won’t affect it.)
  • prevent pregnancy or cause infertility.
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