By Dan B. Getz, D.O.
Chief Medical Officer
Providence Health Care
You may see and hear conflicting information about the COVID-19
vaccines. Sometimes, it can be difficult to tell what's fact from fiction.
As a health care provider and health system committed to the well-being
of our communities, here is fact-based information to help you make the
best choice for you and your loved ones.
HEALTH TIP
COVID-19 Vaccine Myths and Facts
MYTH 1: The COVID-19
vaccines were rushed and
not safe.
Fact: The COVID-19
vaccine was determined
safe and highly effective in
preventing COVID-19 by the
FDA, the government agency
that oversees and regulates
vaccine development and
approval. Other countries,
including Canada and the
United Kingdom, also found
the vaccine safe and effective
after evaluation. At Providence,
we carefully reviewed the data
prior to making it available at
our facilities. We always put
the safety and well-being of
patients first.
Myth 2: Taking the
COVID-19 vaccine will
give me COVID-19.
Fact: The COVID-19
vaccine will not give you the
virus. The COVID-19 vaccine
uses messenger RNA to teach
your immune system how to
recognize and fight off the virus,
should you come into contact
with it. The vaccine does not
include live virus and therefore
cannot cause an infection.
Myth 3: The vaccine
contains a microchip.
Fact: There is no microchip
or tracking device in the
COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine
is intended to prevent or lessen
the impact of COVID-19 should
you come into contact with the
virus – not to track you.
Myth 4: The COVID-19
vaccine doesn't protect me.
Fact: Like all vaccines, the
COVID-19 vaccine was designed
to protect you from contracting
the virus or to limit the severity
of the disease should you
contract it. We know from other
diseases and their vaccines that
we can slow or stop the spread
of disease when roughly 60
to 80 percent of a population
gets vaccinated. A vaccine can
limit the spread of the disease
by helping to protect you and
those around you. This shot
is our best shot at stopping
COVID-19.
Myth 5: I don't need
to wear a mask or socially
distance after receiving
the vaccine.
Fact: You still need to
wear a mask and take other
precautions after getting the
COVID-19 vaccine — at least for
a while. Individual city and state
mandates will likely be in effect
until our communities become
widely vaccinated. A COVID-19
vaccine, in combination with
other measures such as wearing
a mask, frequent hand washing
and social distancing, is the
best way to protect yourself and
those around you.
If you'd like to know
whether you can receive
the vaccine now, please go
to the Washington State
Department of Health
website and complete the
Phase Finder survey.
www.doh.wa.gov/
Emergencies/COVID19/
Vaccine
For additional information, please
visit Coronavirus.Providence.org
and click on "Regional Updates"
and "Washington."
PROVIDENCE.ORG/HEARTBEAT 13
