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accessHealthNews.net
December 2021
Volume 8 | Issue No. 52
S
ince the beginning of the COVID-19
outbreak across the U.S. in late January of
2020, ever-changing information about the
disease, safety measures, and vaccine efficacy
has stirred fear and uncertainty. The facts
remain: more than 776,000 lives have been
lost to COVID-19 and vaccines remain the
strongest and safest defense against the virus.
Completed primary vaccinations and booster
shots are critical as variants of concern such as
Delta and newly identified Omicron continue
to emerge. Though it is not yet clear if Omicron
is more transmissible than other variants, as
Delta is, evidence from affected areas of South
Africa has prompted research to learn more.
All variants of COVID-19 can cause severe
disease or death, in particular for the most
vulnerable people, and thus prevention
is always key. Your body is your business
and it's important to remember that your
health decisions are yours alone to make. As
misinformation continues to spread, discussing
concerns with a care provider you trust can
help you make the decision that's right for you.
VACCINE DEVELOPMENT
The seemingly rushed development of
the COVID-19 vaccine has contributed to
controversy surrounding vaccine safety.
However, before the novel coronavirus, which
causes COVID-19, scientists researched similar
coronaviruses called SARS and MERS. This
research provided the head start needed to
develop the COVID-19 vaccination.
The method used to create the Moderna and
Pfizer vaccines has been used for more than
two decades. This technology was created
specifically to help vaccine makers respond
quickly to a new pandemic illness. Following
their initial outbreak, China quickly isolated
and shared genetic information about the new
coronavirus, allowing scientists to begin making
a vaccine to combat COVID-19 specifically.
The collaborative global effort allowed tests to
be conducted simultaneously to gather data
faster.
Companies easily found volunteers for
clinical trials, eager to represent their own
communities. Because COVID-19 has hit
Black and Hispanic communities the hardest,
researchers made sure to include these
populations in clinical trials. Medical research
has historically excluded Black and Hispanic
experiences, prompting COVID-19 vaccine
researchers to ensure volunteers included
people of color and adults from many walks of
life.
The COVID-19 vaccine has passed the same
rigorous development process all vaccines
must go through to ensure safety. A three-
phase trial tested on a small number of adults
evaluates safety, dosage, side effects, and
immune response. If no safety concerns are
present, the trial continues to the next phase.
Ready to #GetTheShot?
Find a vaccine near you at MOStopsCOVID.Gov
