For those who are hesitant about vaccines, what are some common myths about vaccines, and how can each of us work to address these misconceptions?
We spoke with CNN medical analyst dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and visiting professor at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, talks about how everyone can debunk myths, alleviate concerns, and disseminate accurate information about the Covid-19 vaccines.
CNN: Why is it important for everyone to know what myths are surrounding coronavirus vaccines?
Dr. Leana Wen: One of the most important principles in public health is that the messenger is often more important than the message. You are the most trusted messenger for anyone. It could be your parents, your work colleagues or your friends. Getting people vaccinated is our best hope to end this pandemic, and we need everyone’s help to convince people to do so.
Another principle of public health is to meet people where they are. This means that you want to understand why someone might be hesitant about getting vaccinated against coronavirus. The way you approach someone will be completely different if they are concerned about whether the vaccine is safe or not coronavirus. Listening to someone’s concerns and then addressing them with compassion and empathy is crucial.
There are common myths I often hear from my patients, but there are things each of us can say when someone around us expresses these myths.
CNN: Let’s talk about vaccine safety. There must be a lot of myths around.
Win: A common myth is that you get coronavirus if you get the coronavirus vaccine. I also hear it every year when it comes to the flu vaccine: Often patients will say they do not want to get the flu vaccine because they think they will get the flu out of it.
None is true. If anyone is concerned about this, you can say that none of the coronavirus vaccines tested in the US contain live virus. It is therefore not possible to obtain coronavirus from the coronavirus vaccine.
Another set of myths revolves around the mRNA platform used for the Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. I have heard people are worried about whether the vaccine will somehow affect their genetic code and change their genes.
It is not true. This is useful for explaining what mRNA technology is. The term “mRNA” stands for messenger RNA, which is part of the genetic code that teaches cells how to make a protein. The protein produced by the mRNA then activates an immune response and teaches our bodies how to respond to coronavirus if we come into contact with it in the future.
What is very important to understand is what the mRNA does not do: it never gets into the nucleus of human cells, that’s where our DNA is. This means that the vaccine does not communicate with human DNA at all, and therefore it will not change our genetic code.
CNN: The mRNA technology is a new technology. Many are concerned that it is too new and that it has developed too quickly.
Win: There are two points here and two ways to address this concern. First, mRNA technology has actually been in development for over a decade. Secondly, I think it is critical to explain that no shortcuts have been taken in the scientific research or approval processes. Yes, scientists did develop the vaccines in record time. But that’s because the entire global scientific community has gone to work. They did not start from scratch; after the outbreak of SARS and MERS, a lot of work has already been done to start the vaccine development.
The US government and other governments have invested a lot of money in the research. And honestly, we are lucky with the research to have both vaccines that are safe and so effective. But each phase of the clinical research was followed as for other vaccines, with tens of thousands of volunteers in the clinical trials. External committees of independent scientists have reviewed the data and no shortcuts have been taken for the authorization of vaccines.
CNN: What about allergic reactions? Is there not also a myth that these vaccines provoke too many allergic reactions and are therefore not safe?
Win: Admittedly, there are some reports of allergic reactions to the vaccines. Allergic reactions can occur to virtually any medical product. In the ER, we are constantly dealing with allergic reactions to food and medicine. It is much easier to treat than Covid-19.
At present, it is not clear why these very rare allergic reactions occur. Therefore, anyone receiving the Covid-19 vaccine should stay 15 minutes after receiving it. And if you have a history of severe allergic reactions, you may have to wait 30 minutes. If a severe allergic reaction occurs, it can be treated with an EpiPen.
CNN: Here’s another myth – we do not know how long the vaccine will provide immunity, so it makes no sense to take it.
Win: This is a good starting point to acknowledge that the myth comes from a place of truth. It is true that we do not know how long the immunity against the vaccine will last. Studies so far indicate that it should last for at least a few months, but we do not know if the immune protection against the vaccine decreases over time. It is also possible that enough mutations may occur that new vaccines need to be configured, and that people who have already received the vaccine may need a booster shot – as is the case with a tetanus shot. It could be that coronavirus vaccine becomes something you have to get every year, like flu vaccine.
But just because you have to get the vaccine again at some point, does not mean you should not get it the first time. Think of the flu vaccine: just because you have to get it every year, does not mean you should never get it.
CNN: What about young and healthy people who say that only those who are elderly or with underlying medical conditions should get the vaccine?
Win: Right now, when there is a limited amount of vaccine, we need to prioritize those who become more seriously ill to get the vaccine first. Finally, if there is enough stock, we want everyone to get the vaccine.
Here’s why. First, even those who are young and healthy can contract coronavirus and become very ill. It is less common, but deaths also occur in this population. Second, we must strive for herd immunity through vaccination. This is the level at which the virus will significantly slow its spread and hopefully even stop it. Public health experts like Dr Anthony Fauci have estimated that we need about 70 to 85% of the population to be vaccinated to achieve this.
The sooner our people are vaccinated, the sooner we can all return to some degree of pre-pandemic normality and end the devastation of this disease. And it not only requires the elderly and more vulnerable, but we all need to get the vaccine.
CNN: I’m sure you’ve encountered people who think they can stop wearing a mask after getting the vaccine.
Win: We are currently of the opinion that the Covid-19 vaccine prevents anyone from becoming ill, and that the vaccine also protects against serious diseases leading to hospitalization and deaths. This is really important. But we do not know if the vaccine prevents someone from carrying the coronavirus that can infect others. The vaccine also appears to be 95% effective, which is incredible, but it is not 100%.
Therefore, people should still be careful even after being vaccinated. But at some point, we will be able to remove masks if we approach herd immunity through vaccination. Meanwhile, think of vaccines as a tool that does not replace other tools, but is essential to saving lives.
CNN: What about people who say they’m worried about the long-term effects, and think that as long as enough people get the vaccine, they do not have to bother?
Win: This view, which is based on a measure of truth, must be approached with compassion and empathy. Several surveys show that many Americans prefer not to be the first to be vaccinated. There are many Americans who want to be first, and at the moment the demand is far greater than the supply.
Over the next few months, many millions will be vaccinated. It is reasonable to point out to these examples of people that we not only show tens of thousands of research participants but also tens of millions of people that the vaccine is safe and effective. Being vaccinated yourself when it is your turn, and showing other examples of people in the community being vaccinated, will also help you a lot in convincing unwilling friends and family members.
Humility and honesty are the key. We have to admit that the vaccines are relatively new, so we do not know the long-term consequences. But then add that there is no reason to believe that the vaccines will cause long-term adverse effects. We have a long history of vaccine development, and scientifically there is no evidence of long-term vaccine damage.
We know that Covid-19 can cause serious illness and death. We know that thousands of Americans die every day. These are also our family members, friends and colleagues. That is why it is so important to get the vaccine. We are in the midst of a pandemic, and it is taking us all to protect ourselves and others as well.