If you’d like to talk to someone about your vaccine questions, drop by The Hub to talk to a healthcare professional in a judgment-free setting today. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) have released detailed information about why and how vaccines keep us safer and healthier. Learn more about the vaccination clinic on the Pittsburgh campus. Here are some key reasons to get vaccinated as soon as you have the opportunity.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe.
All three of the COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States have been shown to be safe. None of the vaccines contain live virus, and they cannot infect recipients with COVID-19. Side effects are generally mild, and may include pain at the injection site, a headache, chills or fever, all of which generally resolve within 24-48 hours. In extremely rare instances, allergic reactions have occurred. These reactions can be effectively and immediately treated at the vaccination clinic; this is why it is important that you remain at the clinic for 15 to 30 minutes after receiving your shot.
COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective.
Each of the three COVID-19 vaccines available in the U.S. is proven to be highly effective at preventing COVID-19, especially severe disease. All three vaccines will be available at Pitt’s vaccine clinic in Nordenberg Hall.
COVID-19 vaccines will help to end the pandemic.
Ending the pandemic requires all of us to use every tool available to us. That means we must all get vaccines if and when we are able. More importantly, the more people who get vaccinated, the lower the circulation of COVID-19 will be—and the fewer chances the disease will have to mutate.
COVID-19 vaccines have been rigorously tested.
Clinical trials for all three of the vaccines included people of all races and genders. Tests were also conducted across a range of ages, and the Pfizer vaccine is approved for children 5 and older.
COVID-19 vaccines protect against variants.
While much is still being learned about the level of protection provided, all three vaccines provide some protection against new virus variants.