Coronavirus
JAM | Jan 10, 2022

COVID vaccines – What you need to know: CDC

Ategie Edwards

Ategie Edwards / Our Today

Reading Time: 2 minutes
Doses of Cuba’s Abdala coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine are seen at a vaccination center in Caracas, Venezuela July 1, 2021. (Photo: Manaure Quintero/REUTERS)

The island at present, unlike a number of other countries, does not suffer from vaccine inequity. Yet, despite this, the country still has an extremely low vaccine rate of 19.6 per cent.

Perhaps anti-vaxxers and those vaccine hesitant do not know enough about the COVID vaccines. Here is a list of things to note about vaccines, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

KEY THINGS TO NOTE

  • COVID-19 vaccines are able to help protect one from severe disease and death brought on by the virus. The vaccines help to reduce the risk of people spreading the virus that causes COVID-19, as they teach our immune systems how to recognise and fight the virus.
  • Like with other vaccines, side effects may occur after administration. However, they should subside within a matter of days. If they do not subside, visit your doctor immediately.
  • Those aged five years and older are able to receive the vaccine.
  • Vaccine dosage does not depend on one’s weight but instead on the patient’s age and day of vaccination.
Vials labelled ‘AstraZeneca, Pfizer – Biontech, Johnson&Johnson, Sputnik V coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine’ are seen in this illustration. (Photo: Dado Ruvic/REUTERS)
  • A COVID booster shot is an additional dose of a vaccine administered after the protection provided by the original shot(s) has begun to lessen over time. Those aged 16 years and older are able to receive booster shots. While speaking last year at one in the series of COVID conversations, Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton outlined the timeline and type of booster shot to take:
  • Those who received the AstraZeneca vaccine and are six months beyond their second dose, are able to take a booster shot of the Pfizer vaccine. Persons administered the Pfizer, and are six months beyond the second dose, can receive another Pfizer as their booster shot.
  • For individuals administered the single-dose vaccine, two months after their dose, they are able to take their booster shot of the Johnson and Johnson, or they can wait a six-month period after the first dose, to take the Pfizer as a booster shot instead.
  • The benefits of the vaccine outweigh the known and unknown potential risks.

At the end of the day, whether or not an individual decides to take the vaccine should solely be up to them. But ensure that whatever decision you choose, is one that is informed.

Conduct the necessary research and talk to those who got vaxxed, inquire about their experience, talk to your doctor and do not allow ignorance or the opinions of others to form your decision.

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