HOUSTON – Texas has been administering the COVID-19 vaccine for four months and there are still myths running rampant.
In today’s Trust Index, we set the record straight.
CAN YOU GET COVID FROM THE COVID-19 VACCINE?
No.
The vaccines authorized for emergency use do not contain the live virus, so it cannot make you sick with COVID-19. Feeling bad after you get the vaccine is not the same as COVID, it’s actually your immune system building a response as the vaccine teaches it to recognize and fight the virus.
CAN THE VACCINE CHANGE YOUR DNA?
No.
Although some people refuse the vaccine because they think it changes your DNA, the mRNA does not enter the nucleus of a cell where DNA is kept. Therefore, this is false.
This kind of vaccine simply teaches your cells how to make a protein that triggers immunity.
IF YOU FEEL SICK AFTER THE SHOT, DO YOU HAVE ANTIBODIES?
Feeling sick after the vaccine means your immune system is building a strong response to the virus and you should develop antibodies.
If you had COVID before and felt really bad after the shot, that could be because your body already has some antibodies and gave a strong immune response to the vaccine.
WILL THE VACCINE AFFECT FERTILITY?
No.
While it’s difficult to pinpoint whether this myth started in fictional movies, or as a hypothesis from scientists, or by vaccine skeptics, the information was spun across anti-vaccination platforms and Dr. Katherine McKnight with CCRM Fertility said many of her patients believe this myth.
“There’s been absolutely no indication that the COVID vaccine impacts future fertility at all. A lot of patients who are hearing this were not conspiracy theory believers, these are regular women who are just concerned for their future childbearing potential,” Dr. McKnight explained.
How can the vaccine be safe if you’re pregnant?
“We know the vaccine should not be withheld from pregnant women or women trying to become pregnant. One of the fears, or what women are concerned about, is that the vaccine will cross the placenta and be harmful to their baby and that has been shown to absolutely not be the case, we believe it to be very safe and we’re seeing lots of very healthy live birth outcomes after people have gotten the COVID vaccine,” Dr. McKnight said.
She encourages pregnant women to get vaccinated because studies indicate unborn babies are receiving COVID protection from moms who get vaccinated.
“What we’re seeing now is women who got their COVID vaccine in pregnancy,” Dr. McKnight said, “[their] newborn babies have antibodies that were directly from their mom, which is incredible.”
IS THE VACCINE SAFE FOR BREASTFEEDING?
Yes.
Dr. McKnight said nursing is safe and researchers are studying breastmilk now to confirm the antibodies are passed on to young babies.