By David Gordon, M.D.
September 5, 2021
As public health officials push to get as many people vaccinated against COVID-19 as possible (preferably >90% to achieve effective population immunity), we are unfortunately dealing with much misinformation, concerns and outright vaccine antagonism which is hindering this effort. Here are a few myths and associated facts about the anti-COVID-19 vaccines available in the U.S.
MYTH:
“These vaccines were developed so fast; they can’t be safe.”
FACT:
Actually, the technology behind the making of these vaccines has been around for more than two decades. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines consist of tiny oil particles (liposomes) containing the genetic code only for that protein structure which the COVID-19 virus uses to attach to and enter cells (the “spike protein”). When I came to the University of Michigan as a professor in 1991, such methods were already in use to successfully transfer certain genes to cells experimentally. The only recent development was the adaptation of this technology to quickly identify the genetic coding sequence for this spike protein, synthesize just the genetic instructions for this part of the virus, and then place copies of this genetic instruction into the liposomes. This is essentially the structure of both the Pfizer vaccine (now fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration = FDA) and the Moderna vaccine (likely to become similarly approved by the FDA in the next several weeks). The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is slightly different in that it uses a weakened virus = Adenovirus, to deliver the same spike protein genetic code to cells. All these vaccines were initially found to be safe via testing of thousands of individuals, before the FDA granted Emergency Use Authorization for their use in the general public, and after now being administered to millions of individuals, the safety data have held up. The current science allows for much faster development and production of such vaccines, without compromising the safety checks.
MYTH:
“One can get COVID-19 from the vaccine.”
FACT:
Not true! All the FDA approved vaccines carry the genetic instructions to produce ONLY the spike protein, NOT the whole COVID-19 virus. Unlike the vaccines, the COVID-19 virus also has numerous genes which take over the infected cell’s machinery, forces the cell to make more virus, kills the cell, and then infects other cells. The vaccines only direct the cells to display the spike protein part on the cell’s surface so that your immune cells can identify it and develop antibodies and other attack mechanisms to identify and destroy future COVID-19 virus. Most people don’t get any side effects from vaccination other than a temporarily sore arm. The few who get reactions (e.g., fatigue and/or headache for a day) find that these go away after a day or two and are not COVID-19 infections.
MYTH:
“The fact that some vaccinated people can still get COVID-19 infection means the vaccines don’t work.”
FACT:
Although the vaccines may not prevent you from getting exposed to the virus, most such vaccinated individuals have no symptoms or at most a very mild case of infection, because the body’s immune system quickly recognizes the virus and amplifies its virus fighting resources to eliminate the virus quickly before it does any major damage. This is also the case with other vaccines for other diseases. Almost nobody who has been fully vaccinated, if exposed to the virus, has to be hospitalized, whereas about 90+% of COVID-19 patients needing to be hospitalized, put on a ventilator or who now die, are individuals who are not vaccinated. It is sad to see many such people fighting for their lives and wishing that they had gotten vaccinated.
MYTH:
“If I don’t get vaccinated, I’m potentially only harming myself if at all. I’d rather risk getting COVID and I’m unlikely to get any serious disease.”
FACT:
If you don’t get vaccinated and happen to be one of the lucky ones who does not get sick, you can still spread the COVID-19 virus to others who may definitely get very sick. This may include members of your own family who are elderly or have other chronic illnesses. However, if you have children under age 12 (currently not eligible for vaccination) you may infect them too. Many states are currently experiencing surges in COVID-19 hospitalizations among children, many of whom end up on respirators and may die. Don’t be selfish! Protect others around you.
MYTH:
“These vaccines may contain electronic tracking devices or may cause you to be magnetized.”
FACT:
There is absolutely no evidence for this. These vaccines contain no electronic or magnetizing components.
For more information, please check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website which continually updates the information on COVID-19 obtained from scientific studies: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov)
