Living with COVID-19: Answering vaccine questions and busting myths, part 2
This is a continuation of a previous story featuring COVID-19 questions and myths.
I had COVID-19, I’m naturally protected and don’t need a vaccine.
Getting COVID-19 may offer some natural protection, but it is not clear how long that protection might last. Vaccines offer predictable protection against COVID and can protect you against serious medical complications, even after you’ve had COVID-19.
People should have the choice to vaccinate because the choice only affects you.
You do have the choice to vaccinate, but it doesn’t only affect you. If you catch COVID-19 you can spread it to everyone you come near, putting them at risk. You could also become very sick and end up in the hospital, putting an unnecessary strain on our health care system. Vaccination makes you far less likely to become seriously ill or transmit the virus.
Vaccines weaken a child’s immune system.
Vaccines actually strengthen the immune system. Vaccines expose the body to a weakened version of the virus – which is not live – which makes the body produce the antibodies to fight infection.
The vaccines affect fertility.
There is no evidence that any of the vaccines affect fertility in men or women, and the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada supports the use of all vaccines.
The short and long term side effects of vaccines are worse than COVID-19.
A vaccine may have side effects but most are mild and temporary, such as a mild fever or soreness where the needle went in. There is a possibility of a serious side effect, but those are rare. Your chances of becoming very sick, or dying, from COVID-19 disease is much, much higher than they are having a serious side effect from the vaccine.
Where do you get your information? / I got my information from…
There are many sources of reliable information on COVID-19, including the SHA. You should consider looking at multiple sources to make sure that the information you see is reliable, and agreed upon by doctors and scientists.
The above can help be part of an open, honest discussion about vaccines. Remember to be empathetic, listen to what they have to say, and focus on staying positive.
