Both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have been authorized and recommended in the US. Here are a few myths about the vaccinations you may be hearing.

1. It can cause infertility

The vaccine does not have an effect on fertility. The vaccine helps to encourage the body to create copies of a spike protein found on the coronavirus’ surface. This helps the body learn to fight off the virus and strengthen the immune system against COVID-19.

2. If you’ve had COVID-19, you don’t need the vaccine

No one is exactly sure of the amount of time someone has antibodies after having the coronavirus. What they do know is that it can be contracted twice and it can pose dangerous health risks to the body. So even if you’ve had it before, it would still be beneficial to receive the vaccination.

3. The vaccine gives you COVID-19

The vaccine neither gives you COVID-19 nor does it cause you to test positive for the virus. As mentioned above, the two vaccines available (Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna) create resistance to COVID by using a protein active in the virus to help fight it off.

There is a possibility those who have received the vaccine would test positive on an antibodies test. This would mean the vaccine has created an immunity, which is the goal of the vaccines. How the vaccine will affect these antibody tests for sure will become clearer in the future as more data is available.

4. The vaccine alters DNA

The vaccine does not interact with DNA in any way, so it will not have an effect on it. What it uses is Messenger RNA vaccines (mRNA vaccines) which “teaches” cells to make a protein which helps to prevent future infections using the body’s natural defenses. The CDC offers a lot of information on mRNA including how it works and how it’s different than DNA here.

5. The vaccine was rushed and therefore, is unsafe

While the actual vaccines being given in the USA are new, the method used to create them has been in the works for many years. When the pandemic occurred, they were able to quickly and efficiently create both Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna to fight the virus.

Visit the CDC website for FAQs available on the virus and this link on the Johns Hopkins site for more debunked myths regarding the vaccines.

To learn more from our local health care providers about the COVID vaccine visit:

https://www.avera.org/services/primary-care/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine/

5 Myths about the COVID Vaccine