Vaccine fact-checked: Why should I get the Covid vaccine?

Vaccine: Dr Hilary says ‘I can’t believe how misinformed’ people are

Pfizer/BioNTech became the first firm to announce it had developed the first effective Covid vaccine, with the jab proving to have more than 95 percent efficacy. But despite the widely available scientific facts and evidence about the vaccine, a number of people are still unsure about getting it. Research from YouGov shows two thirds of the public, or 67 percent, say they are fairly or likely to take the vaccine when it’s available to them.

One in five, or 21 percent, say they are unlikely to have it while 12 percent said they were unsure about the immunisation.

One in five of those unlikely to be vaccinated, which equates to four percent of the general population, say it’s because they don’t trust the jab.

Eight percent of those who are reluctant to take the Pfizer vaccine cite being opposed to vaccines in general as their reasoning – but that figure equates to just two percent of the overall population.

Half of the group who are reluctant, which adds up to ten percent of Brits, say they simply want to wait and see if the vaccine is safe before agreeing to take it.

We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Why should I get the Covid vaccine?

A number of rumours and conspiracy theories have been going around about the virus and vaccine.

Theories range from the Covid vaccine containing a concealed microchip to track people, altering human DNA and that the vaccine give you the virus.

Speaking to the microchip conspiracies, Dr Steven Patton from Norton Healthcare said: “That’s not true.”

In short, the vaccine doesn’t contain a microchip or tracking device implemented by the Government.

It’s also worth noting if authorities really wanted to track people, internet data, financial history and mobile phones enable that to happen without having to inject people with a microchip.

Another reason Brits are hesitant to take the virus is because they don’t trust the speed at which it has been manufactured.

This concern is much more understandable, given that vaccines normally take up to ten years to develop. Dr Roshni Matthew from Stanford Children’s Health explains: “Vaccine making typically takes several years.

“In the case of Covid-19 vaccines, several steps that typically occur in sequence, occurred in parallel.

“The safety and efficacy safeguards, however, are all still in place and vaccines wouldn’t be approved for civilian use until they meet all the required standards.”

Dr Patton added: “Yes, the data for this vaccine is new, per se, but the technology has been around. We have had vaccinations for many years.”

DON’T MISS
Coronavirus warning: Pfizer vaccine rollout could take a full YEAR [WARNING]

How many people have had the covid vaccine? [EXPLAINED]
Covid vaccine ingredients: What is in Moderna, Pfizer mRNA vaccines? [ANALYSIS]

The Covid vaccine being mandatory for everyone has been another fearful conspiracy going around, but in fact, this has never been confirmed.

It is unlikely the Covid vaccine would be compulsory for everyone in the UK, especially given no other vaccine holds that legal status.

The Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, which applies in England and Wales, gives the Government powers to prevent, control or mitigate the spread of an infection or contamination.

However, the law explicitly states regulations can never require a person to undertake forced medical treatment, which includes vaccination.

The Coronavirus Act introduced in March 2020 extended this prohibition to the devolved administrations of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

For people who believe the vaccine will infect them with Covid-19, this, again isn’t true.

Just like the flu vaccine can’t infect you with the flu, or a Measles jab can’t give you measles, a Covid vaccine cannot give a recipient the coronavirus.

Dr Thomas J. Duzynski from Indiana University explained: “Some people may believe that as soon as you are vaccinated you are protected from the disease, and that is not correct.

“When you get vaccinated, we have to wait for something called zero-conversion, which eventually leads to the development of antibodies that protect you from the virus.

“This process can take several weeks, so if you get the Covid-19 vaccine and shortly thereafter are exposed to the virus, you could develop the illness – leading to the perception that you got the disease from the vaccination, which is incorrect.”

Source: Read Full Article