“And the people stayed home. And the people read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still.
And the people listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently and smarter.
And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.
And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed."
~Kitty O'Meara'~
No vaccine is 100% effective — and they don’t need to be 100% effective to save lives. Clinical trials showed both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are more than 94% effective in protecting against COVID-19.1,2 And the vaccine developed by Janssen, a Johnson & Johnson company, is 85% effective in preventing severe cases of COVID-19.3To help put these numbers in perspective, seasonal flu vaccines are only 40% to 60% effective — but flu vaccinations prevented an estimated 7.52 million illnesses, 105,000 hospitalizations, and 6,300 deaths during the 2019–2020 flu season alone.4,5 All 3 of the COVID-19 vaccines have even higher efficacy rates — so imagine how many illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths they’ll prevent. COVID-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness data is open to the publicAll the data published by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is posted online and open for everyone to review. You can see exactly how the vaccines work — and why we know they’re safe:
COVID-19 vaccine side effects are usually minor and manageable Like most vaccines, the ones for COVID-19 can produce side effects. These side effects are normal signs that the body is building immunity, and may include:
It’s important to remember that all vaccines carry risks for side effects. These risks must be balanced with the benefits. COVID-19 is a serious illness — and anyone can develop life-threatening complications if they get it. Fortunately, the FDA has confirmed that the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccines outweigh any risks for possible side effects.
Although extremely rare, allergic reactions can occur. If you have a history of severe allergic reactions or carry an epinephrine injector (such as an EpiPen), please talk to your doctor before getting a vaccination.6 You shouldn’t get vaccinated if you’ve ever had an immediate allergic reaction to any of the ingredients in the vaccine. And you shouldn’t get a second dose if you had a severe allergic reaction after your first dose.7 For more information about COVID-19 vaccines for people with allergies, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. If you have questions or concerns about allergies or any other health conditions, your doctor can help you decide if getting vaccinated is the right choice for you. It is said you can’t get COVID-19 from the vaccineVaccination triggers a natural response where the body generates its own protection against a virus. COVID-19 vaccines don’t introduce the virus into the body at all. Instead, they teach your body how to recognize the coronavirus and create antibodies to fight it. Since no trace of the coronavirus was used to create the COVID-19 vaccines, it’s impossible for them to make you sick with COVID-19. Most recommend getting the COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available to you Choosing to get vaccinated — and following COVID-19 safety guidelines until medical experts say it’s safe to stop — are the best things you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones against COVID-19. The sooner people get vaccinated, the sooner we can see friends and family in person, get back to the activities we’ve been missing, and end the pandemic for good. It’s important for everyone to keep taking steps to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Maintain a safe distance, wear a mask, and protect yourself and your loved ones.
This article reflects the most current information available at the time of publishing.