Charles Anyanwu

We have all been sick at some point right? You probably had Influenza (The Flu), Chicken Pox, or even a mild case of pneumonia. All of these common diseases that we don’t even think about, we already have effective vaccinations for. Since the creation of these vaccines we have seen proof of a significant drop in cases and deaths from these types of illnesses and diseases. So, to push the narrative that the COVID-19 vaccine isn’t safe is false.

Similarly with the creation of the many COVID-19 Vaccines, we have seen significant and positive reinforcement from scientists like Dr. Anthony Fauci and the vaccines showing that these vaccines are effective in fighting of COVID-19. 

What is the COVD-19 Vaccine?

Source: PAHO.org

According to the CDC, there are currently three different types of vaccines in circulation between pharmaceutical companies Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson that have been authorized for use in the United States. However only two of these types of vaccines are being used by these three companies. The first type of vaccine is an mRNA vaccine.This type, “contains material from the virus that causes COVID-19 that gives our cells instructions for how to make a harmless protein that is unique to the virus. After our cells make copies of the protein, they destroy the genetic material from the vaccine.” Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine fall under this type. 

Source: FDA

The second type of COVID-19 vaccine is called a Viral Vector Vaccine. According to the CDC these types of vaccines, “contain a modified version of a different virus than the one that causes COVID-19. Inside the shell of the modified virus, there is material from the virus that causes COVID-19. This is called a ‘viral vector.’ Once the viral vector is inside our cells, the genetic material gives cells instructions to make a protein that is unique to the virus that causes COVID-19. Using these instructions, our cells make copies of the protein. This prompts our bodies to build T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight that virus if we are infected in the future.” Johnson & Johnson is the only one out of both Moderna and Pfizer that distributes this type of vaccine.

Why is the COVID-19  Vaccine Safe?

Source : CDC.gov

If you take a look at all of the vaccines being distributed across the United States, each one was  FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved and had very high efficacy percentages. In an article from Stat News, “The Pfizer vaccine showed efficacy of 95% at preventing symptomatic Covid infection after two doses. The vaccine appeared to be more or less equally protective across age groups and racial and ethnic groups.”

Additionally, “The Moderna vaccine was 94.1% effective at preventing symptomatic Covid-19 after the second dose. The vaccine’s efficacy appeared to be slightly lower in people 65 and older, but during a presentation to the Food and Drug Administration’s advisory committee in December, the company explained that the numbers could have been influenced by the fact there were few cases in that age group in the trial. The vaccine appeared to be equally effective across different ethnic and racial groups,” states Stat News.

Now, some may say that the vaccines have caused a multitude of severe side effects for those who have received the vaccines. And that is completely wrong. In fact, according to the Los Angeles Times “To date…just more than 50,000 reports of adverse reactions following the three vaccines currently authorized for emergency use in the U.S.: those from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. Fewer than 8,000 of them are categorized as serious. That works out to a rate of about 50 reports per 1 million doses administered.” This is very small in comparison to the 330,175,936 million people in the United States. 

Take a look at the total number of Vaccines reported delivered, administered and fully vaccinated by Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson:Source: CDC

Source: CDC

The high efficacy percentages after the second dose, coupled with the amount of people who have already received the vaccine, with further positive reinforcements from the CDC, FDA and other top health officials like Dr. Anthony Fauci, just further goes to show how safe and willing  people are to take the vaccine.

Works Cited

2, Helen Branswell Feb., et al. “Comparing Three Covid-19 Vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna, J&J.” STAT, 3 Mar. 2021, www.statnews.com/2021/02/02/comparing-the-covid-19-vaccines-developed-by-pfizer-moderna-and-johnson-johnson/.  

“CDC COVID Data Tracker.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#cases_casesper100klast7days.      

Commissioner, Office of the. “Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/counterterrorism-and-emerging-threats/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19.  

Effectiveness of THE Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine among Residents of Two Skilled Nursing Facilities Experiencing COVID-19 OUTBREAKS – Connecticut, December 2020–February 2021. 18 Mar. 2021, www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7011e3.htm.  

“Here’s How Experts Know the COVID-19 Vaccines Are Safe.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2021, www.latimes.com/projects/covid-19-vaccine-safety-side-effects-risks-reactions/.  

The New York Times. “See How the Vaccine Rollout Is Going in Your County and State.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 17 Dec. 2020, www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/covid-19-vaccine-doses.html.   

“Pfizer and BioNTech Confirm High Efficacy and No Serious Safety Concerns Through Up to Six Months Following Second Dose in Updated Topline Analysis of Landmark COVID-19 Vaccine Study.” Pfizer and BioNTech Confirm High Efficacy and No Serious Safety Concerns Through Up to Six Months Following Second Dose in Updated Topline Analysis of Landmark COVID-19 Vaccine Study | Pfpfizeruscom, www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-and-biontech-confirm-high-efficacy-and-no-serious.