The truth on COVID-19 vaccines
You might be hearing rumors about the COVID-19 vaccine, and you may have questions. At Central California Alliance for Health, we urge you to seek out the truth about the vaccines. Be ready to get the vaccine when it’s your turn!
Here are seven facts you should know:
1. Getting a vaccine will not give you COVID-19.
None of the vaccines contain the live virus. This means they cannot make you sick with COVID-19.
2. You should get vaccinated even if you’ve had COVID-19.
Research shows that the consequences of COVID-19 can be severe. Even if you’ve recovered from having COVID-19, there is not enough information to know if you are protected from getting it again.
3. The COVID-19 vaccines do not have severe side effects in most people.
It’s common to experience mild to moderate signs that your body is building protection after getting a vaccine. These can include muscle aches, tiredness, headache, fever, chills or soreness where you had the injection. Side effects often last for a day or two. However, any new medication can cause an allergic reaction in a small number of people. For this reason, you’ll be asked to stay for observation for a short period after you’ve received the shot.
4. The COVID-19 vaccine will not change your DNA or make you infertile.
The vaccines are designed to give your body instructions to fight the coronavirus. There is no way the vaccine can change the DNA of your cells. There is also no evidence that getting the vaccine can cause women to miscarry. If you are pregnant, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
5. When you get the vaccine, you will not be asked for information about your immigration status.
The vaccine is available to the public regardless of immigration status.
6. You will receive the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost.
You will not have to pay for the vaccine. If you are asked to pay for it, that is a scam. In addition, if you are asked to pay to receive the vaccine early or to be added to a list, you are being scammed.
Avoid falling for COVID-19 myths or scams by seeking information from experts only. Some examples of reliable sources for vaccine information include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), your county’s public health department and your primary care provider (PCP). You can also check the Central California Alliance for Health website (www.ccah-alliance.org) for COVID-19 information for Medi-Cal members.
7. After you’ve been vaccinated, you should still practice safety measures.
The vaccine can prevent you from getting sick. However, there is not enough information to know whether you can still carry and give the virus to others. Continue to cover your mouth and nose with a mask in public. Stay at least 6 feet away from people who don’t live with you, avoid crowds and wash your hands often.
For up-to-date resources on COVID-19 vaccines, go to www.ccah-alliance.org.
You will not have to pay for the vaccine. If you are asked to pay for it, that is a scam. In addition, if you are asked to pay to receive the vaccine early or to be added to a list, you are being scammed.
Maya Heinert, MD, is Medical Director of the Central California Alliance for Health, a Medi-Cal managed care health plan focused on improving access to health care for over 360,000 residents of Santa Cruz, Monterey and Merced counties. Dr. Heinert is a pediatric emergency medicine specialist with over 20 years of health care experience in Northern California.