Tough conversations about COVID-19 vaccine
Q: What should you say to someone who doesn’t plan on getting the coronavirus vaccine?
A: There are now safe and effective vaccines for COVID-19. The first two, Moderna and Pfizer, had to be shown to be safe for tens of thousands of participants in a clinical trial. What is amazing is the vaccines were 94% to 95% efficacious in preventing disease.
Now, tens of millions more have received the vaccines in the U.S. since the vaccines were cleared by the Food and Drug Administration. There are still no major safety concerns. Serious allergic reactions are very rare.
Masks, social distancing and quarantine are not enough to get back to normal. The more people who are immune, the fewer can get infected and spread COVID-19 to others.
— Dr. Jonathan Pinsky, medical director, infection control and prevention, Edward Hospital, and Annemarie Schmocker, infection prevention manager, Elmhurst Hospital
A: For anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers, risking your own life is one thing, but to put someone else in harm’s way is another. You can make the right choice to get vaccinated so we can achieve immunity for the collective good.
Here are a few tips:
1. The vaccine is free.
2. If you travel for work or vacation, many airlines and countries will require proof of vaccination.
3. COVID-19 can kill. If you’re not worried about yourself, think about your family and friends.
4. You may experience side effects from the vaccine, such as flu-like symptoms, but isn’t that better than being on a ventilator?
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