Local medical expert destroys myths about the COVID-19 vaccine

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida. – Since the beginning of Florida’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout plan, medical specialists at several hospitals are saying they are alarmed to see how quickly misinformation about the vaccine is spreading online.

We talked to a medical expert ready to dismiss the top five myths she is seeing circulating on social media and why she says that fighting them with accurate information is a priority.

“This has (un) very serious consequences. We’ve seen it in the past with measles outbreaks, so tackling it now for COVID-19 is even more important, ”said Rachel Guran, director of epidemiology and infection prevention at the Memorial Healthcare System.

COVID-19 vaccine legend Guran said vaccine misinformation is spreading as fast as COVID-19.

Myth 1: the COVID-19 vaccine will affect fertility

“This is a very serious problem, especially with people who are in my age group, women and men in their 30s and 40s, who want to have more children or who have not yet had children. It is important that you know that this myth is not based on any kind of science. There is nothing to suggest that the composition of the COVID-19 vaccine has any effect on someone’s fertility, as well as in pregnant or nursing mothers. It is not a contraindication to a condition or factor that justifies the suspension of a certain medical treatment for the damage it would cause to the patient – so that he also gets the vaccine. There is pseudoscience related to how the mRNA vaccine would work and it is similar to the types of cells that are in your uterus, but there is nothing to suggest that our bodies are not smart enough to know the difference between the antibody response and ours. uterus cells. “

Myth 2: it was developed very fast

“There is nothing to suggest that the Food and Drug Administration has taken shortcuts as well as the Centers for Disease Control and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the advisory committee on immunization practices. They are made up of separate independent scientists and doctors and it is nobody who is bought and paid for, and they are the ones who are reading the data and making the recommendations. “

Myth 3: I have allergies, so I can’t get the vaccine

“We have seen reports of people with severe allergic reactions who are having (reactions) after the COVID-19 vaccine, but so far the only contraindications, people who shouldn’t be getting the vaccine, are people who have a severe allergic reaction to the ingredients that are found in the vaccine. This is a very easy list to get what these ingredients are, otherwise, if you have a history of allergy to drugs or anything else, you can still get the vaccine, there is only one precaution – you will have to wait 30 minutes after the vaccine (then the medical team) can be sure that you are okay. “

What are the ingredients of the Pfizer covid-19 vaccine?

“The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine includes the following ingredients: mRNA, lipids ((4-hydroxybutyl) azanediyl) bis (hexane-6,1-diyl) bis (2-hexyldecanoate), 2[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N, N-dithetradecylacetamide, 1,2-Distearoil-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and cholesterol), potassium chloride, monobasic potassium phosphate, sodium chloride, dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate and sucrose. “

(See the Pfizer package leaflet provided to people before receiving the vaccine)

What are the ingredients of the Modern COVID-19 vaccine?

“The Modern COVID-19 vaccine contains the following ingredients: messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), lipids (SM-102, polyethylene glycol [PEG] 2,000 dimiristoyl glycerol [DMG], cholesterol and 1,2-distearoil-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine [DSPC]), tromethamine, tromethamine hydrochloride, acetic acid, sodium acetate and sucrose. “

(See the Modern data sheet provided to people before receiving the vaccine)

Myth 4: The COVID-19 vaccine will give me COVID

“The COVID-19 vaccine is not a live virus, so it cannot transmit COVID.”

Myth 5: Now that there is a vaccine, I don’t need to wear a mask

“Until we have a wide adoption of the vaccine to make it accessible and learn how the vaccine really protects us, we need to continue masking and physically distancing ourselves. We need to continue all of these things to ensure that our pandemic ends. We want to get back to normal. The vaccine is the way we can get back to normal. “

What is the final lesson in ending these myths?

“Look at credible sources – which would be the CDC and the FDA – your doctors and pharmacists and people who are really providing this good, reliable and accurate information.”

And if you have any questions, talk to your doctor, not your Facebook friend.

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