By Magdalene Ko, Staff Writer
In November alone, there were four million new, reported COVID-19 cases in the United States. This resulted in hospitals facing shortages on staffing and personal protective equipment. The first COVID-19 vaccine shot was administered December 7, a historic landmark in the fight against this virus. Scientists are now predicting that a vaccine will be ready by the end of 2020 for frontline health workers in the United States. In light of all this, will you join me in taking the COVID-19 vaccine?
A vaccine is a weakened or inactive strain of a virus. When it enters our bodies, our immune systems react and learn how to fight the virus off. When or if we receive contact with the virus, our immune systems will recognize them as invaders and produce antibodies to keep us healthy. Two companies, Pfizer and Moderna, have applied to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for emergency approval for their vaccines. To ensure that a vaccine is safe for use, it must first be tested and evaluated by the FDA, as well as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Even after it has been distributed and used, it is still monitored to ensure there are no negative effects.
Although trials and regulations have been used, many Americans still doubt the safety or efficacy of such a quickly developed vaccine, as well as the necessity of one. Less than half of Americans take the flu shot, a well-tested and proven vaccine, so even less might want to take this completely new one. My family has wondered about the side effects of this vaccine, and whether it was tested thoroughly. Encouragingly, both Pfizer and Moderna have vaccines that are over ninety percent effective in clinical trials, without anyone reporting extra illnesses and only mild side effects. The effects that have been seen include fatigue and minor muscle aches for a short period of time, which would not worry me enough to avoid taking a vaccine altogether. Throughout the entire making process, the vaccine is reviewed and scrutinized by scientists to ensure its safety.
As a teen who gets restless and wants to meet friends, I would take the vaccine when it is offered to the public. Staying at home reminds me of how much I enjoyed the small things I used to take for granted before sheltering-in-place. With the vaccine, I could stop sitting in front of my computer doing activities, like my piano lessons, virtually. Passing my friends in the hallways during school or going for a quick shopping spree were things I never knew I would miss. Taking the vaccine would enable me to return to a life of relative normality of going back to being a regular high school girl stressing over homework and hanging out with friends. I trust that the trials for this vaccine tested every single aspect to ensure its safety for all Americans. Before even starting clinical trials, a vaccine is tested on animals for side effects. After it passes, it then enters Phase 1 trials, where it is administered to small groups of people to ensure its safety. Phase 2 would be administering it to hundreds of people to check for dosage and immune system responses. I know that if a vaccine is ineffective or has problems, trials would be stopped and re-examined. While COVID-19 will not disappear from our lives by taking this vaccine, it will help significantly stop the spread. To reach herd immunity, experts estimate that 80-90 percent of the population must be vaccinated.
Taking the vaccine would save many lives, as well as reboot the economy and restart jobs. This injection has been reviewed and scrutinized by scientists across the world, who understand the dangers of even one small mistake. It is our responsibility to take care of ourselves and our communities by taking the vaccine, thus keeping others safe from COVID-19.
