Clearing up COVID questions, concerns

Dear Editor,

Thank you for continuing to open up the lines of communication regarding the COVID situation. It is always good to raise questions and concerns, especially when it concerns people’s health.

Here are some facts we would like to share with your readers. These facts come from reputable sources, which is very important when one is considering data surrounding this, or any other, health issue.

COVID vaccines continue to be intensely monitored for safety by the CDC, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, public health officials, and other medical organizations. There have been some adverse reactions to the vaccine, as there are with any vaccine, but they have been extremely minimal when compared to the millions of people in the U.S. who have received the vaccine without harm. Specifically:

Myocarditis along with pericarditis (heart inflammation) are rare symptoms of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, reported primarily in young males ages 12-24 years and together have occurred in less than 0.0056% of all those who have received the vaccine. Both of these symptoms can be treated with medication and rest. In contrast, contracting the COVID-19 virus increases the risk of nearly 16 times of having myocarditis.

Cancer is a genetic disease meaning it is caused by changes to your genes (DNA). NONE of the COVID-19 vaccinations alter or change your DNA in any way.

Blood clots have been reported with the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccination and have occurred in only 0.0004% of cases (or 4 in every 1 million people who receive the J&J vaccine). Note that the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are recommended by the CDC over the J&J/Janssen vaccine.

There have been reports of cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) following COVID-19 vaccination. An analysis completed by the CDC showed “no increased risk of GBS after Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines).”

These adverse reactions are minimal compared to the consequences of getting the virus and the effects experienced by some people during and after getting the disease. Besides the risk of hospitalization during COVID, the effect of Long COVID involves post-COVID symptoms which can last for weeks, months or even years and include fatigue, fever, difficulty breathing, chest pain, sleep problems, dizziness, problems with mental concentration, changes in smell or taste, and anxiety and depression, among others. COVID-19 infections can also cause multi-organ effects which can increase the likelihood of developing new health conditions.

Both the Pfizer- BioNTech and Moderna vaccinations are mRNA vaccines that have been fully approved by the FDA. mRNA vaccines have been studied for decades and cannot cause an infection NOR do they contain a live virus. These vaccines have gone through the same safety trials as any other vaccine on the market today.

COVID-19 infection can be particularly hard on children, especially the very young. This country has seen 1,407 deaths of children under 18 years. To minimize the deaths of these children is disheartening, especially to those parents who experienced this profound sadness.

In Nebraska alone, there have been 5,378 deaths overall. COVID remains the third leading cause of death in the US since 2020. Classifying deaths accurately is very important and is done systematically because it provides crucial information about all diseases. A cause-of-death statement is an informed medical opinion that is based on sound medical judgment drawn from clinical training and experience, as well as knowledge of current disease states and local trends.

COVID vaccines do NOT contain ingredients from aborted fetal cells nor any type of tissue cells. This is a myth that is simply not true. Although the ingredients vary by manufacturer, the vaccines do contain harmless proteins, fats, sugars, and salts.

The bottom line is whether a person receives the vaccine or not is a personal choice. Everyone should be informed about the risks and benefits to make their own decisions. They should not, however, be misled with misinformation or shamed or ridiculed because of the decisions they make for themselves and their family.

Credible resources include the following:

Effectiveness of the Bivalent mRNA Vaccine in Preventing Severe COVID-19 Outcomes: An Observational Cohort Study https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4314067

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvss/vsrg/vsrg03-508.pdf

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/how-they-w...

The employees of Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department spend many hours each week learning more about COVID and its effects from credible sources. The public is welcome to call and talk to the staff.

We work to prevent disease and injury, promote optimal health, and protect the health of the public.

Sincerely,

Myra Stoney

Health Director

Southwest Nebraska

Public Health Department