Health Questions to Consider Before Taking the COVID-19 Vaccine

The COVID-19 vaccine is the fastest-developed vaccine to address the pandemic. Since the vaccine development happened so quickly, there are many speculations and questions regarding the vaccine’s safety and efficacy. Here are some health questions to consider before taking the COVID-19 vaccine.

Health Questions to Consider Before Taking the COVID-19 Vaccine:

Should I take the COVID-19 vaccine?

Healthcare professionals strongly recommend getting vaccinated for COVID-19. Considering the nature of the virus and health risks associated with it, getting a vaccine is advised to avoid getting seriously ill from COVID-19. By getting vaccinated, you can also protect your loved ones around you.

Can the vaccine give me COVID-19?

No, the vaccine cannot give you COVID-19.  None of the FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized for use in the United States use the live attenuated virus to develop immunity. However, a vaccine typically takes a few weeks to build immunity after vaccination. That means it’s possible to contract the virus just before or just after getting the vaccination.

Do I still need to get vaccinated if I already had COVID-19 and recovered?

Even though you already had COVID-19 and recovered, you still need to get vaccinated as per CDC’s recommendations. That’s because you can catch the viral disease more than once. While one infection may give you some short-term antibody protection, it’s still unclear how long this protection will last.

Is there a COVID-19 vaccine for children?

There is no COVID-19 vaccination for children yet. Experts recommend conducting more studies before COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for children aged 16 and younger.

Is it safe to get a COVID-19 vaccine with an underlying medical condition?

The COVID-19 vaccination is important, especially for people with underlying health problems. Those with heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and obesity may want to get the vaccine fast. People with these conditions are more likely to get seriously ill from COVID-19.

Why do I need two COVID-19 shots?

All FDA authorized vaccines are mRNA-based vaccines and require two doses in a span of a few weeks. While the first shot helps the immune system recognize the virus, the second shot will help strengthen our bodies’ immune response. To get the best protection, you will need at least two dosages of the vaccine.

Are there long-term side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine?

All COVID-19 vaccines are relatively new in the market, and the long-term side effects are still unknown. It will undoubtedly take more time to study and learn about the side effects of such vaccinations. However, each approved vaccine is authorized based on at least eight weeks’ worth of safety data collected from the clinical trials.

Will the COVID-19 vaccine hurt or make me sick?

Just like every vaccine, this injection may have some side effects. Mild fever, body ache, and sore arm are common side effects of vaccine administration. However, that doesn’t mean a COVID-19 vaccine will make you sick.  Most symptoms are likely to go away in a week. In case you have more severe symptoms, call your primary care physician, or seek emergency medical treatment, should you have a severe reaction.

How do I know if the COVID-19 vaccine is safe?

All the approved COVID-19 vaccines were tested in multiple clinical trials involving tens of thousands of participants to ensure they meet safety standards. Based on the results of the clinical trial data, there were no serious safety concerns. The CDC and FDA are continually monitoring the vaccines to find any safety issues after the emergency authorization.

Axiom Medical Workplace COVID-19 Management includes daily screenings, detailed assessments, and testing per best practice standards. We will help you keep your workplace and workforce safe.

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