Is the COVID vaccine truly safe? The people claiming it ruined their health
The COVID-19 vaccine is the main source of hope the world currently has for ending the ongoing pandemic which has seemingly put all of humanity on hold for almost a year now. As vaccines have been rolling out and distributions have reached millions of people all around the world already, many of these participants are now coming forward and sharing their own experiences to others.
While most people who have taken the COVID-19 vaccine so far state that there are no huge side effects they have experienced, some people claim they weren’t so lucky. Some people have gone forward on social media to post their own stories of how the shots affected their body, which begs the question: is the COVID-19 vaccine as safe as we think?
Reported side effects
According to the Michigan Health Lab, experts have cleared up any misinformation that may be spreading around from the COVID-19 vaccine. The report stated: “Just as with other vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccines can cause temporary effects soon after they enter the body and start teaching the immune system to go after the coronavirus”.
“The most common reactions are headaches, arm pain, body aches, chills or fever lasting a few hours to a few days. Taking an over-the-counter painkiller can help ease these”. However, Michigan Health Lab also mentioned there have been some rare cases of “severe allergic reactions or a face-nerve condition called Bell’s palsy among the hundreds of thousands of people vaccinated so far”.
Michigan Health Lab also mentioned that the Bell’s palsy reports are still being investigated, “but the number of cases among vaccinated people was about what might occur naturally in the general population”. The article additionally reported that “There have been several cases of anaphylaxis, or severe allergic reaction, among people with a history of such reactions who received the COVID-19 vaccine”.
Long term vs. short term effects
The Michigan Health Lab also assured readers that these short term side effects are common & expected for the most part. Because vaccinations force the immune system to wake up & prepare it to fight off future infections, the COVID-19 vaccine will leave people with some of those very symptoms for a short time.
Michigan Health Lab elaborated: “Soreness in the muscle where the shot went in, some fatigue, and perhaps feverish. All of these symptoms are good news because they indicate the vaccine is working. And all can be made better with common over-the-counter painkillers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin.)”
As of long term side effects though, experts admit that because no one has had the vaccine for any longer than eight months and distribution out to the general public has just started in December of 2020, there are still no studies on negative long-term effects from the COVID-19 vaccine. A complete report of side-effects can only be determined with time & continuous accurate tracking of those who get the shot.
Misinformation
While a debate still persists with some still against & afraid of the COVID-19 vaccine, remember to always factcheck and consult legitimate research before making your decision to get the shot.
A story made on New York Post also caused controversy recently due to a misleading headline that read “Californian dies hours after getting COVID-19 vaccine” only for the article to state that the cause of death was because the person already had the COVID-19 disease, and was not caused by the vaccination at all.
Most people who have received the shot have only reported mild & temporary side effects so far, but a small number of people have reportedly undergone much worse side-effects because of the vaccine such as swelling lymph nodes or Bell’s Palsy. Whether or not you decide to receive the COVID-19 vaccine is up to you, but just remember that it’s always important to look at both sides of the story before making a decision.
