False claims, government mistrust may lead to fewer vaccines
As Americans prepare for the vaccine, elderly woman in UK first to receive shot
photo or infographic by Piper Neumann
After almost a year talking about how to avoid the COVID-19 virus, there has finally been a discovery of a potential COVID-19 vaccine. The official release of the vaccine was Dec. 8 and was administered on an elderly women in the UK.
After almost a year talking about how to avoid the COVID-19 virus, there has finally been a discovery of a potential COVID-19 vaccine. The official release of the vaccine was Dec. 8 and was administered on an elderly women in the UK. Recent discoveries have allowed doctors and scientist to have the resources they need to get the spread of coronavirus under control. Rumors still continue on the virus and vaccine leaving different opinions of the subject and debates on the effectiveness of the vaccine.
From students to adults, everyone has been pondering the use of the COVID vaccine, nervous of what short term or long lasting effects the vaccine may have on people. Some effects are mild symptoms according the The Wall Street Journal.
“While researchers haven’t found serious safety issues with the vaccines, they do come with possible side effects mostly of mild to moderate severity, including fever, fatigue, headache and arm pain. Severe allergic reactions are likely to be rare, they say,” the newspaper reported.
Teenagers are wondering if they should take in order to fully live out the life they have ahead. Recent test subjects have been on the elderly who have lived their life. People seem to think with this new vaccine, a sense of normality will enter back into the world, yet the relationship between the government and the people may change.
“I think it’s great that there is progress finally being made after so many months” senior Braden Kurtz said. “The debacle of the entire COVID situation a lessened the trust of the government, so many probably will not take the vaccine.”
Many rumors have surfaced about permanent effects the vaccination may leave on women. False gossip through social media has lead some of the public to believe the vaccination cause sterilization in women. According many sites, including AP News and Full Fact, there are strong arguments against this claim with research. The false statement originated from a “head researcher” at Pfizer. With Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, this rumor has flourished in the world of social media. It was posted on a blog that has contained false information prior to this as well, and AP News states that the rumor “is attributed to Michael Yeadon, a retired British doctor who left Pfizer nine years ago.”
People are worried about the effects of the vaccine, but COVID itself may have long term consequences as well. The CDC gives insight on the lingering effects of coronavirus. Cardiovascular problems have surfaced along with respiratory and neurological issues. But researchers have yet to discovered if the vaccine will help these remaining effects.
People with underlying health conditions may want to take the vaccine as soon as possible in order to keep their health up to date. With the vaccinations, though, there are still concerns, making people skeptical on the use of it.
“I have gone back and forth on whether or not to take it because of the safety of the whole thing, but I would probably take it because I do have a compromised immune system, and I am a supporter of vaccinations,” teacher Heather Lebow said.
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Piper is a junior here at WHS and is the sports editor for the newspaper. She loves to play volleyball and is on the varsity team. She hopes to eventually...
