About The Advance. (Vidalia, Ga.) 2003-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 2021)
(Eift Aiiuancg The ADVANCE, August 18, 2021/Page 11A August Is... ■ NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS , Imooth Debunking myths about the COVID-19 vaccines Vaccinating a high percentage of indi viduals against COVID-19 is a key com ponent of the global strategy to diminish the effects of the virus that first appeared in late 2019. Since the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines began in the United States on December 14, 2020, more than 294 million doses have been administered, and more than 135 million people, or 41 percent of the total U.S. population, have been fully vaccinated, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released in May 2021. As vaccine eligibility continues to open up and now includes children as young as 12 for certain vaccines, public health agen cies are urging eligible people to get vacci nated. However, with myths continuing to circulate, individuals may need a little more reassurance that vaccination is the smart and safe choice. The following information, courtesy of Johns Hopkins Medicine, the CDC, the Cleveland Clinic and the Mayo Clinic Health System, can clear up some misinformation about the COVID-19 vac cines. Myth # 1: Because COVID -19 vaccines were rushed, they're not safe and can't be trusted. Fact: The vaccines were developed in record time but not because there were shortcuts in the process. Certain red tape was navigated more efficiently than it had been with past vaccines. Plus, the new tech nology at the center of the mRNA-based vaccines has been in development for more than three decades. The vaccine developers put the vaccines through rigorous clinical trials involving tens of thousands of volun teers. Myth #2: The vaccines affect fertility. Fact: COVID-19 vaccines encourage the body to create copies of the spike pro tein found on the surface of the coronavi- rus and "teach" the immune system to fight the virus that has that specific spike protein. There was confusion when this spike pro tein was mistakenly reported as the same as another spike protein that is involved in the growth and attachment of the placenta dur ing pregnancy. During the Pfizer vaccine tests, 23 female study volunteers became pregnant. The only one to suffer a pregnan cy loss had received the placebo and not the vaccine. Myth #3: COVID-19 vaccines will change my DNA. Fact: Both mRNA vaccines and viral vector vaccine, which is the technology for the Janssen vaccine, deliver genetic material to cells to start virus protection. The materi al never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where DNA is stored. That means these vaccines do not alter or interact with DNA in anyway. Myth #4: These vaccines have severe side effects. Fact: Side effects to the vaccines are short-term, mild or moderate reactions that often resolve without complication or in jury and include things like headache, body aches, fatigue, or mild fever. The Janssen/ Johnson&Johnson vaccine has been linked to blood clots in a very small percentage of vaccine recipients, but the risk was so mini mal that the vaccine was cleared for use af ter a brief pause. Myth #5: The vaccines were made us ing controversial ingredients. Fact: The COVID-19 vaccines were not developed using fetal tissue, eggs, latex, or other allergens. In addition, they do not contain microchips or tracking devices. Millions of people have been vacci nated against COVID-19. To continue this public health initiative, people who may still be wary about the vaccines can learn more about them by speaking with their physicians. Memorial Health Meadows Hospital Supports Vaccines in Reproductive Age Women Vidalia, GA (Monday, August 16, 2021) — Memorial Health Meadows Hospital supports the American Col lege of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommendation that repro ductive age women should be vaccinated to protect themselves and their children from COVID-19. “The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for women during all stages of pregnancy,” said Dr. Karen McColl, Chief Medical Officer at Meadows Hospital. “They should feel confident that choosing the vaccine protects them, as well as their families and communities.” “ACO G is recommending all pregnant and lactating individuals receive a vaccine series to protect them against COVID-19,” McColl added. “And pregnancy testing is not a requirement prior to receiving any current COVID-19 vaccine.” It is also recommended that obstetri cians, gynecologists, and other women’s health care providers lead by example by getting the vaccine and encouraging their patients to do the same, whether pregnant, recently pregnant or nonpregnant. ACOG also says that claims linking COVID-19 vaccines to infertility are un founded and have no scientific evidence supporting them. Pregnant individuals may receive a COVID-19 vaccine at any authorized clinical or non-clinical site such as schools, community centers, and other mass vacci nation locations. Memorial Health Meadows Hospital is operating a public vaccination clinic at 1707 Meadows Lane, Suite A (2nd Floor), Vidalia, GA 30474. To schedule an ap pointment, call (912) 535-SAFE (7233) or visit www.memorialhealth.com/co- vid-19/covid-19-vaccine-information/. Recommended vaccines for adults Newborn ba bies endure quite a bit in the first few days and months of their lives. Routine immunizations help newborns overcome these obstacles, and as newborns get old they receive vaccines to prevent measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis, and chick en pox. A common mis conception suggests that vaccines are only for the young. How ever, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the protection provided by some child hood vaccines can wear off. In addition, some peo ple may be at risk for cer tain vaccine-preventable diseases due to lifestyle, existing health conditions and age. As a result, it's im portant for adults to make sure their vaccines are up- to-date. Those who are un sure of their vaccine status should discuss their health history with their doctors. In the meantime, adults should know that the fol lowing vaccines are recom mended for people of vari ous ages. • Influenza: An an nual flu shot is highly rec ommended. Doctors and health officials indicate that getting the flu vaccine is the single most effective way to prevent seasonal flu or reduce the duration and severity of the illness should it be contracted. • Tdap: This vaccine contains strains of teta nus, diphtheria and per tussis (whooping cough). All three are implicated in serious illnesses or death, according to WebMD. Just about every person, young and old, should receive the Tdap vaccine. The CDC says that every adult should get the Tdap vac cine once if they did not receive it as an adolescent. Then a Td booster shot ev ery 10 years is sufficient. • Shingles: People who have been exposed to varicella (chicken pox) in their youth are at risk for shingles as they grow older. The CDC says near ly one out of three people in the United States will develop shingles in their lifetime. A shingles vaccine can protect against shingles and complications from the disease. Adults who are 50 and older should get the vac cine, which is admin istered in two doses. • Pneumococcal polysaccharide vac cine (PPSV23): This vaccine protects against serious pneumococcal dis eases, including meningitis and bloodstream infec tions. It is recommended for all adults age 65 and older. • Pneumococcal con jugate vaccine (PCV 13): This protects against seri ous pneumococcal disease and pneumonia. Adults 65 years or older who have never received a dose of PCV13 should discuss PCVI3 with their physi cians. Vaccines protect the very young from various diseases, but there are many vaccines that are still vital to health in adult hood. GASTRO INTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY The Endoscopy Center of Southeast Georgia Ronnie R. Smith, MD Member of American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy James H. Barber, Jr., MD A Certified Ambulatory Surgery Center specializing in G-l endoscopy. We are "focused" on the prevention of colorectal cancer and the early diagnosis and management of diseases of the esophagus, stomach, intestines and colon. 200 Maple Drive, Vidalia, GA. 912-538-TEST (8378). GA Permit #138-082. PODIATRY Wiggins Foot and Ankle Associates, P.C. G. Mark Wiggins, D.P.M., Board Certified; foot, reconstructive rear foot and ankle surgery. Available 5 days a week. Office hours 8:30 -5:00 Mon. - Fri. 205 Arlington Drive, Vidalia, GA. 537-2559. PREVENTIVE MEDICINE Ronnie R. Smith, MD and James H. Barber, Jr., MD Board certified in Internal Medicine and "focused" on the Prevention of Heart Attack , Stroke, Colorectal Cancer, Osteoporosis and other health- altering, life-threatening diseases. For "State-Of-The- Art" disease prevention and early detection services, contact us at 538-TEST (538-8378).
