COVID-19 Vaccine- Your Questions Answered

This morning, I received the @pfizerinc COVID-19 vaccine. It was quick, painless, and I had no reaction. I’m grateful to have a vaccine to protect me as I serve on the frontlines of this pandemic, and am deeply proud of Dr. Kizzy and her team that developed this vaccine.

I will continue to mask, social distance, and avoid holiday gatherings to be as safe as humanly possible — getting vaccinated is only a piece of the equation. But it’s a piece I’m so glad we have. I and my entire family are looking forward to this vaccine rolling out to the general public so they can be afforded the same protections and prayerfully get back to normal in 2021. 🙏🏾

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So let’s answer some questions for y’all!

1. Was this vaccine rushed?

   Answer: Short answer, no. Long answer - yes, this vaccine took less time to get from production to the public. But the making and testing of the vaccine was completed in the same standard time it takes to complete any other vaccine. It was able to be expedited to the public for several reasons — one being that the technology to make the vaccine was already in place and has been used for the flu shot before. Another reason is how quickly scientists from all over the world shared knowledge about this virus from lab to lab, with unprecedented speed and data sharing. The clinical trial experts were able to find and quickly enroll participants because a lot of the bureaucracy and red tape was cut out by the manufacturers. And lastly, the federal government pre-purchased vaccine doses and allowed the FDA to grant an emergency authorization for use in healthcare professionals. So, while the actual making and trial of the vaccine was not shortened, many other bureaucratic processes that usually take months were bypassed.

2. Can this vaccine actually give me COVID-19?

   Answer: No. The vaccine uses technology called mRNA that, when introduced into the body, makes our own DNA transcribe the “spike protein” of the COVID-19 virus. This is the only protein of the virus that is made, and then our bodies go on to create antibodies against it. That way, when we come into contact with the actual COVID-19 virus, we already have antibodies floating around in our blood that recognize it and are ready to attack and remove it before it can infect us. Dr. Sanjay Gupta of CNN offers an AMAZING explanation of exactly how the vaccine works on this video.

3. I’m worried about taking a vaccine from the government because I heard about the Tuskegee Experiment and other experiments the government has done in Blacks in the past.

Answer: The Tuskegee Experiment is true — it is not a theory conspiracy. The federal government did run experiments on Black men who had syphilis between 1932 and 1972. The doctors withheld penicillin from them, knowing it could easily cure the disease, in order to see how syphilis affected the body over the course of decades. This was devastating to the community and should be recognized as a stain in American history. With that being said, the COVID-19 vaccine is not an actual experiment and it was not created by the American government. Created by a private corporation, the COVID-19 vaccination was tested on willing participants who enrolled in the study trial earlier this year. In the Pfizer study, there were 43,000 participants, 9,000 of whom were African-American. There were some adverse effects noted, but nothing that occurred at greater rate than the general population, and it was determined to be safe for public consumption based on rigorous research criteria. In fact, the maker of the COVID-19 vaccine is a Black woman from North Carolina, Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett. There is still ongoing research about COVID-19, its long-term effects, different strains, transmission, etc. But the vaccine we are receiving is being given around the world and is not an experiment that the US govt is running on the American, and specifically Black American, people. From what we know about the vaccine, it is being administered safely to thousands of people and has a 94-95% efficacy rate. Of course, there are some adverse/side effects that have been reported (which there are with any vaccination or medication) and those with compromised immune systems and/or severe allergies should consult with their doctors prior to receiving this vaccine. However, all in all, the data is showing us that the general public should feel comfortable receiving it, especially communities of color, who were hit the hardest this year.

This blog is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended to replace or serve as medical advice. Please contact your doctor for individualized medical recommendations based on your health condition. For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and CDC.gov and check out a podcast episode I did this week on the topic at: The Rona Vaccine feat. Dr. Kari - The Negro League Podcast