Editorial

Editorial: If you've been hesitating, now is the time to get COVID vaccine

The Editorial Board

Friday, July 23, 2021

Left, Diana Siebert receives a dose of the Pfizer-BioTech vaccine during a Broadway Pharmacy vacation clinic at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau on Thursday, March 4, 2021.

Sarah Yenesel ~ sarahy@semissourian.com

After months of declining COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, both are on the rise. According to health officials, more than 97% of people getting hospitalized with COVID-19 are unvaccinated. And according to surgeon general Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, 99.5% of deaths are among those who weren't vaccinated. Meanwhile, the Delta variant is causing problems all around Southwest Missouri, though it has yet to hit us hard. That's why now is a good time for the vaccine.

Unlike the original virus that disproportionately affected older individuals and those with weakened immune systems, the new variant is also sending young adults to the hospital.

In Cape Girardeau County, the COVID positivity rate has increased nearly 65% in the last week to 5.6%. And after a prolonged period without a new COVID fatality in Cape Girardeau County, an individual in their 60s died Wednesday.

Missouri's vaccination rate -- 46.6% have initiated a vaccine -- remains low. As of Wednesday, the vaccination rate in Cape Girardeau County was 38.5%. It's even lower in neighboring counties: Bollinger County (26.1%), Perry County (30.8%), Scott County (36.1%) and Stoddard County (29.1%).

The simple truth is that where vaccine adoption is higher, there are fewer deadly cases. The vaccine works. Meanwhile, even if you've previously tested positive for the virus, evidence indicates you are much safer if you also are immunized.

On Wednesday, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced an incentive program which, coupled with the state's education efforts, will hopefully encourage residents to proceed with vaccination. If you missed the story in Thursday's edition, read it online at semissourian.com.

Ultimately, we believe individual health and the ability to gather in groups without fear of spreading the virus is the best incentive. The vaccine has helped get us to this place. But without more people receiving it, the door is left open for further spread -- including that of variants.

Are vaccines perfect? No. We know that it's still possible to get COVID-19 even if you are vaccinated. But it's much less likely, and if you become sick, you are less likely to have severe illness or be hospitalized.

The Centers for Disease Control provides a fact sheet on the vaccine that is worth considering. Here are a few myths it dispels:

* There is no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine causes issues with male or female fertility.

* The vaccine does not alter your DNA.

* The COVID vaccine will not make you magnetic, and all COVID-19 vaccines are free of metal.

If you're concerned, talk with your medical provider. But we join others in the community, including the major health care providers, in encouraging vaccination for COVID-19.

Comments

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�Meanwhile, even if you've previously tested positive for the virus, evidence indicates you are much safer if you also are immunized.� Can you please cite your evidence? Thank you.

-- Posted by Carrie Walker on Fri, Jul 23, 2021, at 5:33 AM
Antibodies elicited by mRNA-1273 vaccination bind more broadly to the receptor binding domain than do those from SARS-CoV-2 infection

Allison J Greaney et al. Sci Transl Med. 2021.

-- Posted by Sagamore on Fri, Jul 23, 2021, at 6:10 AM
Do I still need the vaccine if I�ve already had COVID-19? This is from Univ of Chicago and is not a study but is easy for most to understand.

The answer is absolutely. While we know recovering from a COVID-19 infection means you will have circulating antibodies in your system, we are still learning about how the immune system handles the antibody response after a natural infection. We�re not sure how protective the antibodies are from different kinds of COviD infections � such as an asymptomatic infection versus a symptomatic infection, and with newer variants emerging cross immunity has been shown to be weak in some individuals and with some strains. With vaccination, we know that people with healthy immune systems are getting a great antibody response. So I would recommend vaccination even after a COVID-19 infection to get the best protection.

On top of that, if you live with people who are at higher risk of severe infection or may not develop a strong antibody level after vaccination, getting your own COVID-19 vaccination may make it less likely that you will transmit the virus to them.

-- Posted by M A on Fri, Jul 23, 2021, at 6:14 AM
Good question, Carrie. Yesterday�s WSJ had a good article on what is and isn�t being tracked and reported. Basically, there�s a lot that�s not known about Covid 19, including the efficacy of the vaccine verses natural immunity.

-- Posted by Stan Crader on Fri, Jul 23, 2021, at 7:31 AM
Absolutely Stan, there's not enough information about this vaccine or covid. We know that big pharma cannot be sued when the delivery of new medications is through a vaccine, and this will become the dominant source for delivery in the future.

National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 - Title I: Vaccines - Subtitle 1: National Vaccine Program - (Ronald Reagan)

Part B: Additional Remedies - Sets forth procedures under which the person who filed a petition for compensation under the program may elect to file a civil action for damages.

Provides that no vaccine manufacturer shall be liable in a civil action for damages arising from a vaccine-related injury or death: (1) resulting from unavoidable side effects; or (2) solely due to the manufacturer's failure to provide direct warnings. Provides that a manufacturer may be held liable where: (1) such manufacturer engaged in the fraudulent or intentional withholding of information; or (2) such manufacturer failed to exercise due care. Permits punitive damages in such civil actions under certain circumstances.

Follow the money or yellow brick road.

-- Posted by Murphy Law on Sat, Jul 24, 2021, at 1:36 PM
The covid vaccines are not yet FDA approved and one of the most used rapid tests just lost FDA approval because of the amount of false positives.

-- Posted by madgab1 on Sun, Jul 25, 2021, at 8:03 PM

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