COVID vaccines are being administered all over the country and the world as quickly as possible in an effort to halt the COVID-19 pandemic in its tracks. While vaccinations are our best bet to allow us to “get back to normal” as soon as possible, there are many myths and a lot of misinformation about the vaccines floating around. Arm yourself with the facts about the COVID vaccines by taking our pop quiz!
1.) True or false? The COVID vaccines are safe and effective, despite how quickly they were developed.
2.) True or false? The COVID vaccines are 100% effective and will ensure that you will not get sick from COVID-19 in the future.
3.) How long is it thought to take the body after getting your last shot to build full immunity in order to protect you from COVID-19?
- The full protection is immediate
- One week for full immunity
- Two weeks for full immunity
- Three weeks for full immunity
4.) True or false? After getting any of the available COVID vaccines, experiencing side effects such as injection site pain, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea, is common and is a normal part of the body’s immunity defense.
5.) Fact or myth? The COVID vaccines will alter your body’s DNA.
6.) Fact or myth? The COVID vaccines will infect you with the COVID-19 virus and you will test positive for COVID-19 on a viral test.
7.) Fact or myth? Getting a COVID vaccine could cause you to test positive on an antibody test.
8.) Fact or myth? Getting a COVID vaccine is dangerous for women wanting to get pregnant in the future.
9.) What kind of vaccines are available, or are undergoing large-scale clinical trials, for fighting COVID-19?
- mRNA vaccines
- Protein subunit vaccines
- Vector vaccines
- All of the above
10.) What are the best sources for facts about the COVID vaccines?
- Websites created by governments, universities, and scientific organizations
- Social media sites
- Friends and family
- None of the above
Resources: Information provided by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention / compiled by ERIKA ALDRICH
ANSWERS:
- True. The COVID vaccines were fast-tracked through the cooperative joint efforts of multiple organizations and agencies and received the same scrutiny and testing as other vaccines, making them safe and effective.
- False. No vaccine is 100% effective. It is possible that some people will still contract COVID-19 even after getting a COVID vaccine. Most people will be protected by the vaccine.
- C. Two weeks. Experts believe it takes two weeks after getting your last COVID vaccine for your body to build full immunity to the virus.
- True. Side effects from the COVID vaccine are normal and are evidence of your body building an immune response that will most likely protect you if you come into contact with the live COVID-19 virus in the future.
- Myth. None of the COVID vaccines alter your body’s DNA.
- Myth. None of the COVID vaccines contain a live form of the COVID-19 virus; they cannot make you sick with COVID-19 or test positive for COVID-19 on a viral test. While side effects are possible, they are not the same as being sick with COVID-19.
- Fact. The goal of the COVID vaccines is for your body to create antibodies to fight the live COVID-19 virus if you come into contact with it.
- Myth. The CDC maintains that “There is currently no evidence that COVID-19 vaccination causes any problems with pregnancy, including the development of the placenta. In addition, there is no evidence that fertility problems are a side effect of any vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccines.”
- D. All of the above. All of the COVID vaccines work by introducing material from the COVID-19 virus into the body, which prompts the body to form antibodies to fight the virus in the future, but they all introduce the material in a slightly different way.
- A. Websites created by governments, universities, and scientific organizations. When looking for reliable information regarding COVID vaccines, search out sources that are credible and backed by science.