Myths and realities of vaccination against COVID-19: fighting misinformation

Despite the fact that we have been with COVID-19 for more than three years, some myths about this disease still exist today, which causes many people to have misinformation, thus causing false news.

According to Dr. Yamile Sandoval Sánchez, medical manager of Asofarma’s Vaccine Unit, it is necessary to continue educating the general population so that they obtain information from reliable sources and, above all, continue to urge governments to have the necessary supply of vaccines for adults and children.

“We must continue to encourage people to get information from reliable primary sources, since the misinformation caused by false news only generates distrust in the population, which in turn leads to them not getting vaccinated and hence the number of people increases. who get sick, especially those who are most vulnerable,” said Dr. Sandoval.

Most common myths and reality against vaccines

•Myth: the mRNA platform is insecure and increases the risk of effects supposedly attributed to vaccination and immunization. Reality: This technology, (which was designed by Moderna) which mimics the mechanism of action of the mRNA that is naturally present in the body, what it does is use a sequence from the virus that contains instructions on how to create a specific “similar” protein. to that of the new virus (in this case the S protein of SARS-COV-2), making the body’s cells produce these proteins and display them to the immune system. In this way, immune cells notice these foreign proteins (S protein) and react to generate an immune response (antibodies) that allows the body to protect itself against the virus when exposed to it.

•Myth: COVID-19 vaccines contain microchips. Reality: COVID-19 vaccines do not contain microchips, they have been developed based on the functioning of the existing mRNA in the body, in such a way that when applied they can simulate their functions and generate the same response for the production of antibodies. and thus fight diseases.

•Myth: if I get vaccinated I will contract the virus. Fact: COVID-19 vaccines do not cause you to get COVID-19 because they are not made from live or inactivated viruses. Some people, at the time of vaccination, may be asymptomatically infected (the incubation period is approximately 15 days), which erroneously leads them to associate vaccination with infection. It is important to remember that, like other biologics, some people may have local side effects after receiving the vaccine, such as fever or muscle pain, which usually disappear within a few days.

•Myth: COVID-19 vaccines cause variants. Fact: COVID-19 vaccines do not create or cause variants, what they do is help prevent new variants from appearing since the more people are vaccinated (herd immunity), the less likely the virus is to mutate.

•Myth: Being around someone who has been vaccinated will affect my menstrual cycle. Fact: Your menstrual cycle cannot be affected by being around someone who has received the COVID-19 vaccine, stress, time changes, sleep problems, and changes in diet or level of exercise, if they can. do it.

“The pandemic demonstrated the importance of collective and concerted action to ensure that vaccines reach everyone. Vaccination today continues to be the safest and most effective strategy available to prevent infection, complications, and hospitalization due to SARS-CoV-2 infection, among children, adolescents, and adults,” concluded Dr. Sandoval.

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