SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton: Answers To Common COVID-19 And Vaccine Questions

Press release from SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton:

August 18, 2021

At SSM Health, we are eager to protect our communities by getting everyone vaccinated against COVID-19. Here are some common questions people have about the latest COVID-19 developments and the vaccines.

Q: How do I keep my child safe from the Delta variant?

A: This is no easy task in these divisive times. About 94,000 children were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the week that ended Aug. 5, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

To begin with, continue to have them wear a mask in schools and public places, and make sure anyone older than 12 in your family receives the vaccine. If your child wakes up not feeling well – runny nose, headache – keep them home and call your pediatrician. If your child has recently been in a crowded area – school, airplane, party, etc. – consider getting them a COVID-19 test. Early intervention is significant -- some of the more severe cases of the virus have occurred when people waited too long to seek medical help or get tested.

If your child does test positive for COVID-19, bear in mind that COVID-19 is primarily contagious for 10 days, according to studies. And, while some children do require treatment in the ICU, most cases are not as severe.

Q: When can my child get a vaccine?

A: Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. surgeon general, told CNN that the country will “move quickly” on getting the vaccine approved for children. Pfizer and Moderna are currently conducting trials on children ages 5 to 11, and the FDA recently asked them to double the number of children enrolled in the program. However, the AAP and other scientists are urging the FDA to move more quickly. Murthy said vaccines for children may be available by the end of 2021.

Q: Is the Delta variant that bad?

A: Yes. The Delta variant is more than twice as contagious, causes more serious cases of COVID-19 and affects younger people to a greater degree than the original coronavirus did. Even some people who have been vaccinated have been infected by the Delta variant, although their cases typically don’t lead to serious illness, hospitalization or death.

In addition, high numbers of unvaccinated individuals allow the virus to remain active in our communities and to mutate and create new variants that may be even more resistant to vaccines. This was not the case with polio, measles, smallpox and other diseases of the past.

Q: I had a mild case of COVID-19 a few months ago. Why do I still need a vaccine?

A: People who have gotten the vaccine actually have higher antibody levels than those who have recovered from a case of coronavirus. Also, studies have shown that the vaccine gives a terrific boost to people who have recovered from the disease. The vaccine is the surest way to build long-lasting resistance to COVID-19.

Q: Does the vaccine change your DNA?

A: No. The vaccines essentially give instructions to our cells to create protection against the virus. The nucleus of each cell is where the DNA is stored, and the vaccine does not enter the nuclei.

Also, research into mRNA has been going on for years – this is not something that just appeared in the last 18 months. Extensive vaccine trials were conducted on 70,000 people, and more than 4 billion doses of Pfizer and Moderna have been given across the globe. It’s safe.

Q: What about the other things I’ve heard about this injecting metal into my body and making me magnetic, or the vaccine being a way for the government and big companies to collect information about me?

A: This is simply not true. The vaccines don’t contain metals and do not create an electromagnetic field. They also don’t contain a chip that gets inserted into your body. In terms of privacy, our use of smartphones and computers already gives away huge chunks of personal information.

Q: Is the vaccine safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women? What if I’m trying to get pregnant?

A: Studies have shown the vaccine is safe for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and women who hope to become pregnant. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also supports these findings and recommends the vaccine for pregnant women and new moms. The CDC has even established a voluntary registry (v-safe) to collect information on the health of people, including pregnant women, who received the vaccine. This information supports the safety and efficacy of the vaccines.

Q: What about my constitutional rights?

A: The courts have ruled that employers can require the vaccine for their employees. This is becoming the norm, rather than the exception. Any discussion of rights should also include our responsibilities in a free society. As a Catholic health system, we believe it’s a moral responsibility for us to provide exceptional health care that is accessible and affordable, and that we have a special responsibility to look after the poor and the vulnerable. By getting a vaccine, we are also protecting children who are too young to get a vaccine, as well as those with compromised immune systems. We are indeed our brother and sister’s keeper.

Q: I’m concerned about the use of fetal tissue in the creation and testing of the vaccines. Why should I get a vaccine when it came from that process?

A: The Associated Press reported that “several types of cell lines created decades ago using fetal tissue exist and are widely used in medical manufacturing but the cells in them today are clones of the early cells, not the original tissue.”

These cell lines were used to test the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and to produce and test the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. J&J states that there is no fetal tissue in its vaccine.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops gave this guidance back in January: “Given that the COVID-19 virus can involve serious health risks, it can be morally acceptable to receive a vaccine that uses abortion-derived cell lines if no other available vaccines comparable in safety and efficacy with no connection to abortion.”

The Vatican agreed. Pope Francis had this to say: "Vaccination is a simple but profound way of promoting the common good and caring for each other, especially the most vulnerable. I pray to God that everyone may contribute their own small grain of sand, their own small gesture of love."

This press release was produced by SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton. The views expressed here are the author’s own.