Covid Vaccine Brings Hope, Questions
Alexis Maokhamphiou ‘21 Staff Writer
Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca have constructed COVID-19 vaccines that have been FDA-approved. As the vaccine is being administered around the country, the possibility of preventing the spread of COVID-19 grows; however, the vaccine has not been around for long. Do you trust it enough to get vaccinated? Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE. developed the first vaccine, and it was administered last month to Sandra Lindsay, a nurse from New York. Pfizer’s vaccine has a 95% effective rate against COVID and requires two doses for full effectiveness, the second 21 days after the first. Their vaccine has been approved for ages
|
16 and older.
The Moderna vaccine has a 94% effective rate and also requires two doses. The second dose is administered 28 days after the first, and the vaccine can be given to those that are 18 years old or older. AstraZeneca is another vaccine that is being administered in Maryland. AstraZeneca’s vaccine is up to 90% effective against COVID. Studies are ongoing for ages 12 to 17 years to receive the vaccine. There have not been any vaccines approved or administered for children under 12. Some side effects of the vaccine include soreness at the site of injection, redness and swelling within 1-2 days after the vaccination. Other common side effects include fatigue or tiredness, headache and low-grade fever. Most of these symptoms were resolved in about one-two days after the vaccination. Doctors have stressed the safety of the COVID vaccines and say long-term effects are unlikely.
On December 8, 2020, Governor Larry Hogan said that there is no intention of making the vaccine mandatory or required, “but we’re going to do everything we can to encourage it.” The idea of getting vaccinated gives hope to Howard’s students and staff when it comes to possibly preventing the spread of COVID and eventually going back to normal life. Caroline Otchet, a senior at Howard High School, has been following news about the COVID vaccine and has little to no concerns. She says, “I would feel safer if my peers got the vaccine because at Howard we’re all so close together all the time, since we are a super crowded high school. I think I would feel a lot more comfortable knowing that people were protected against COVID.” When Mr. Ho, a teacher at Howard High School, was asked about the vaccine and school, he responded that schools should not open up all the way and that as long as COVID is around, everyone should treat it seriously. He knows that there has not been testing on kids yet and would feel safer going back to school with the vaccine, but would “still feel concerned for the students and does not want to be responsible for the lives of kids.” Both Otchet and Mr. Ho plan on getting the vaccine once they are able to.
Since the vaccines are still new and have only been out for a month, some students are uncertain about their effectiveness. Coby Robinson and Alex Marshall, two seniors at Howard High, fall into this category. When they were asked if they trusted the COVID vaccine, Robinson answered, “Not really. The normal vaccine usually takes a couple of years to make and they made this vaccine in 9 months. To me, it doesn’t make much sense and I feel like it’s not as safe as it could be.” When Marshall was asked, he stated, “Kind of. I want to see what happens first but I think I could trust it after I wait a little bit to see if there are any bad effects.” Once he is able to, Robinson plans on getting the vaccine, whereas Marshall might wait.
While some students doubt the effectiveness of the vaccine, sophomore Emily Zahn and senior Emily Elchynski have trust in the vaccine. Zahn’s reasoning is that a lot of trusted doctors have said it was safe. Elchynski shares that her dad has gotten the vaccine and has not had any difficulties with it. She states, “I do trust the vaccine because there were a lot of companies working on it, and I feel like it is effective based on the people who have gotten it so far and all of the trials.” The COVID-19 vaccine is being administered throughout the country in phases and offers hope in slowing down the spread of the virus. After many tests and research, each individual has to decide for themself if they will get vaccinated.
The Moderna vaccine has a 94% effective rate and also requires two doses. The second dose is administered 28 days after the first, and the vaccine can be given to those that are 18 years old or older. AstraZeneca is another vaccine that is being administered in Maryland. AstraZeneca’s vaccine is up to 90% effective against COVID. Studies are ongoing for ages 12 to 17 years to receive the vaccine. There have not been any vaccines approved or administered for children under 12. Some side effects of the vaccine include soreness at the site of injection, redness and swelling within 1-2 days after the vaccination. Other common side effects include fatigue or tiredness, headache and low-grade fever. Most of these symptoms were resolved in about one-two days after the vaccination. Doctors have stressed the safety of the COVID vaccines and say long-term effects are unlikely.
On December 8, 2020, Governor Larry Hogan said that there is no intention of making the vaccine mandatory or required, “but we’re going to do everything we can to encourage it.” The idea of getting vaccinated gives hope to Howard’s students and staff when it comes to possibly preventing the spread of COVID and eventually going back to normal life. Caroline Otchet, a senior at Howard High School, has been following news about the COVID vaccine and has little to no concerns. She says, “I would feel safer if my peers got the vaccine because at Howard we’re all so close together all the time, since we are a super crowded high school. I think I would feel a lot more comfortable knowing that people were protected against COVID.” When Mr. Ho, a teacher at Howard High School, was asked about the vaccine and school, he responded that schools should not open up all the way and that as long as COVID is around, everyone should treat it seriously. He knows that there has not been testing on kids yet and would feel safer going back to school with the vaccine, but would “still feel concerned for the students and does not want to be responsible for the lives of kids.” Both Otchet and Mr. Ho plan on getting the vaccine once they are able to.
Since the vaccines are still new and have only been out for a month, some students are uncertain about their effectiveness. Coby Robinson and Alex Marshall, two seniors at Howard High, fall into this category. When they were asked if they trusted the COVID vaccine, Robinson answered, “Not really. The normal vaccine usually takes a couple of years to make and they made this vaccine in 9 months. To me, it doesn’t make much sense and I feel like it’s not as safe as it could be.” When Marshall was asked, he stated, “Kind of. I want to see what happens first but I think I could trust it after I wait a little bit to see if there are any bad effects.” Once he is able to, Robinson plans on getting the vaccine, whereas Marshall might wait.
While some students doubt the effectiveness of the vaccine, sophomore Emily Zahn and senior Emily Elchynski have trust in the vaccine. Zahn’s reasoning is that a lot of trusted doctors have said it was safe. Elchynski shares that her dad has gotten the vaccine and has not had any difficulties with it. She states, “I do trust the vaccine because there were a lot of companies working on it, and I feel like it is effective based on the people who have gotten it so far and all of the trials.” The COVID-19 vaccine is being administered throughout the country in phases and offers hope in slowing down the spread of the virus. After many tests and research, each individual has to decide for themself if they will get vaccinated.