Covid-19 has swept through the world in just over one year. There have already been over 160 million infections worldwide and more than three million deaths. Just as the rate of infection slows for one nation, it picks up in another because of new variants.
The vaccines for Covid-19 are safe and effective. Not only does it train your immune system to recognize the virus and prevent infection, should you contract the virus, you will be significantly less likely to become seriously ill and transmit the virus to others. For these reasons, physicians like <a href=’https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-anand-choudhary/’>Dr. Anand</a> recommend that patients get vaccinated now to have the most protection against the virus and its newest variants.
Covid-19 is Dangerous
Although the death rate for Covid-19 is under two percent, the virus is so contagious that over half a million people have died in the United States alone. In a normal flu season 60,000 deaths are normal with a similar death rate.
In the U.S., there have been over 2.17 million hospitalizations with people age sixty and older making up 1.25 million of them. With vaccination, people over age 65 are 64 percent less likely to be hospitalized with one shot and 94 percent less likely to be hospitalized once fully vaccinated.
Vaccination is the Less Risky Option
Many people are concerned about the serious adverse reactions of the Covid-19 vaccine and are choosing not to be vaccinated. The main concerns have been a serious allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis and a risk of blood clots. It is important to note that these reactions are extremely rare.
The risk of developing a serious adverse reaction to the vaccine is .0005 percent, meaning that your risk of death from the actual virus is 4,000 times higher than it is from the vaccine. The vaccine is safe. If you have concerns about this, please discuss them with your physician.
It Protects Others
Although risks are rare, some people have a legitimate reason why they can’t take the vaccine, such as an allergy to polyethylene glycol. This is a common ingredient in MiraLAX and many over-the-counter pain relievers including acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Since those people can’t take the vaccine, the rest of us need to get vaccinated to keep them safe. This practice is known as herd immunity.
Herd immunity occurs when 70 percent or more of the members of a community are vaccinated or immune from a virus. If most of the people in the community are immune to the illness, it prevents the remaining 30 percent from getting sick. It’s our responsibility to protect them.
An End to the Covid-19 Crisis
Dr. Anthony Fauci and many other<a href=’https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-anand-choudhary/’>reputable health experts</a> agree that the best chance of getting past this pandemic and back to a normal life is vaccination. Two vaccines, Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, have over a 91 percent effectiveness rate after the second dose.
With this level of effectiveness, we know that the vaccine works. Early tests also suggest that they are effective against the newest variants that are causing so many deaths abroad. These variants have already made it to our shores, so it’s important to be vaccinated to prevent the tragedy we are seeing overseas.
It Saves Lives
There is no doubt that the Covid-19 vaccine saves lives. The United States is no longer a Covid-19 hotspot. This is because the vaccines are working. Nearly half of U.S. residents have received at least one shot of a vaccine, offering significant protection from the virus, but we are far from herd immunity.
The more quickly we can get up to 70 percent of the population fully vaccinated, the more quickly we can enjoy all of the things we miss. If you have questions about the risks of Covid-19 vaccination, contact the physicians and DuPont Medical Group. They will be more than happy to help you.
