There is so much information on COVID-19 and the vaccine, and Vee is here to spread the big facts!
CAP: I already had COVID-19, I will not benefit from taking the vaccine.
FACT: I already had COVID-19 and can still benefit from getting vaccinated. Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that re-infection with COVID-19 is possible, we are all still advised to get a COVID-19 vaccine even if we have been sick with COVID-19 before.
CAP: You can test positive because of vaccines.
FACT: You can’t test positive because of vaccines. Since there is no live virus in the vaccines, the vaccines will not affect your test result. The protein that helps your immune system recognise and fight the virus does not cause infection of any sort. It is possible to get infected with the virus before the vaccine has had time to fully protect your body.
CAP: COVID-19 doesn’t affect young people so I don’t need the vaccine.
FACT: Although I’m less likely to be hospitalised because of COVID-19 or to die from it, I can still catch the virus and develop severe and lasting symptoms, particularly if I’m living with obesity, diabetes or high blood pressure (hypertension). COVID-19 testing rates show that people aged 29 and Under accounted for more than 25% of COVID-19 cases in South Africa, and are seen as more likely to transmit the virus than others, so it’s important to get vaccinated.
CAP: Once I or a loved one receive the COVID-19 vaccine, I no longer need to wear a mask.
FACT: Masking, hand washing and physical distancing remain necessary in public until enough people have become immune to stop community spread and reinfection.
CAP: Researchers rushed the development of the vaccine, so its effectiveness and safety cannot betrusted.
FACT: Studies have found that the two initial vaccines are both about 95% effective — and reported no serious or life-threatening side effects. There are many reasons why the COVID-19 vaccines could be developed so quickly e.g. Some types of COVID-19 vaccines were created with a method that has been in development for years, so the companies could start the vaccine development process early in the pandemic. Also, because COVID-19 is so contagious and widespread, it did not take long to see if the vaccine worked for study volunteers who were vaccinated as part of research.
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