COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs

Should I trust a vaccine that was produced so quickly?

Yes, this rigorous and safe method of vaccine development and approval has been in use for almost two decades. Additionally, because COVID-19 is so contagious and widespread, it did not take long to see if the vaccine worked for the study volunteers who were vaccinated. More than 4.1 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been given globally, and almost 350 million have been given in the U.S.

Are there any side effects I can expect from the vaccine?

Like the flu shot, the vaccine is administered into a large muscle in the upper arm. As is the case with any vaccine, allergic reactions may occur. Some may experience mild fever, soreness, muscle aches, headaches, chills, fatigue/tiredness, muscle or joint pain, redness and/or swelling at the injection site. These are signs of an immune response to the vaccine and expected in some patients.

If you have pain or discomfort, you can take your normal pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. You can apply a clean, cool compress over the injection site if needed. Remember to drink plenty of fluids.

We know there is a small risk of side effects associated with all vaccines, but the side effects are often less serious than the diseases

themselves.

Does the vaccine alter my DNA?

Both mRNA and viral vector COVID-19 vaccines deliver instructions to our cells to start building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. Once those instructions are transcribed, both the mRNA and viral vector vaccines degrade rapidly in your body. The mRNA does not enter the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA is kept. The viral vectors used in COVID-19 vaccines are non-replicating and don’t have the machinery to insert its DNA into our cellular DNA. Both types of vaccines get broken down by your body’s cells and are gone within a few days.

Can I get COVID-19 from the vaccine?

None of the vaccines being used in the U.S. contain a live virus, and therefore, they cannot infect anyone with COVID-19. Vaccinated individuals may experience mild, temporary side effects, but this is an indication of the immune response to the vaccination, not COVID-19.

Yes, as no vaccine is 100% effective, but you still have less of a chance of contracting COVID-19. Experts have always known there will be a small percentage of fully vaccinated people who still get sick from COVID-19. CDC Research shows vaccine effectiveness was 91% before the dominance of the delta variant, and it has since dropped to 66%. The flu shot effectiveness typically ranges anywhere from 40% to 60%.

Why should I get the vaccine if I can still contract COVID-19 after being vaccinated?

According to the CDC, unvaccinated people were more than 29 times more likely to be hospitalized than vaccinated people, and about five times more likely to be infected. At Lake Charles Memorial, around 90% of our hospitalizations are unvaccinated

patients.

Do the vaccines pose any threat to fertility?

There is no evidence that female or male fertility problems are a side effect of any vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccines. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine will not affect the fertility of women who are seeking to become pregnant, including through in vitro fertilization methods. While pregnant women were excluded from the initial Pfizer vaccine trial, 23 women in the trial became pregnant after receiving the vaccine and delivered healthy babies..

Do the vaccines pose any threat to pregnant women?

Pregnant and recently pregnant women are at an increased risk for severe illness, including preterm birth, from COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant women. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that all eligible persons, including pregnant and lactating individuals, receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

The vaccine will not affect the protein involved in the growth and attachment of the placenta during pregnancy. The COVID-19 vaccine encourages the body to create copies of the spike protein found on the coronavirus’s surface and “teaches” the body’s immune system to fight the virus that has that specific spike protein on it. The spike proteins targeted by the vaccines are completely different than the protein associated with placental growth and attachment.

Is there any health reason why I shouldn’t get the vaccine?

COVID-19 vaccination may not be for everyone. If you have any concerns about its impact on any underlying health conditions you may have, we highly encourage you to talk to your primary care physician or specialist.

*Information was provided by the CDC, LDH and Ochsner Health.