COVID-19 Vaccinations: What We Know

Well, folks, we’re halfway through 2021 and we’re still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. As time passes and more information comes out about COVID-19 vaccinations, we thought it would be good to provide details on the facts we know to date about the vaccine. As we all know, this information is being updated regularly as we learn more and more with each passing day, so be sure to check in with the CDC for the most up-to-date information.

According to the NY Times:

• Vaccinated people are nearly guaranteed not to be hospitalized or killed by COVID.
• Among children under 12, who remain ineligible for the vaccines, serious forms of COVID are also extremely rare. (For perspective, children face bigger risks of serious harm when they ride in a car.)
• The Delta variant does not appear to change either of those facts.
• Millions of unvaccinated American adults are vulnerable to hospitalization or death from COVID.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine:

• Over the past months, millions of people in the U.S. have been safely vaccinated. The FDA and CDC continue to carefully monitor each of the authorized COVID-19 vaccines for safety concerns.
  • These organizations are being thorough and transparent. One example is that in April 2021 the CDC and FDA paused administration of the J&J vaccine so they could review data on a few reported cases of serious blood clots following vaccination with that vaccine. After this review, the FDA and CDC determined that the benefits of the J&J vaccine outweigh the risk of this very rare side effect, and authorized vaccination with the J&J shot to resume.
• Similarly, after observing rare occurrences of myocarditis following the second injection of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, the CDC released information for the public.

What’s important to note is that these highly reputable and science-based organizations will continue to communicate with the public any findings and possible safety issues with this or any other COVID-19 vaccinations. Their concern is for our health and safety, which means that any potential safety risks of COVID-19 vaccines will always be weighed against the known and serious risk of harm due to the COVID-19 infection.

One of the biggest questions out there is: Can I get COVID-19 from the vaccine?

And the great news is that NO, you cannot and will not get COVID-19 from any of the vaccines. The COVID-19 vaccines do not have any virus or other infectious material in them. From the facts we have now, we know that the COVID-19 vaccine protects individuals from a serious infection, preventing them from ending up in the hospital. 

In the interest of making sure we’re all on the same page at Longmont Hearing and Tinnitus Center, we ask patients if they are vaccinated and we mark this information in their file. All staff members are vaccinated, and everyone is required to wear a mask, both staff and patients. 

We are committed to keeping ourselves, our community, and our families safe, and we believe that starts with getting the facts. We’re not experts in the COVID-19 field, but if you have any hearing-related questions, we’ve got you covered! Give us a call for any hearing aid questions, to set up an appointment, or to schedule an ear cleaning.