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Mullin
This week, the first COVID-19 vaccines are being distributed to Oklahoma and across the country. President Trump’s work and commitment to Operation Warp Speed, have ensured that we are now closer than ever to defeating this invisible enemy. There have been many things said about the vaccine regarding its safety, the process of developing it, and whether people will be forced to get it. I want to set the record straight on some of the most common concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Myth: The COVID-19 vaccine is not safe.
Fact: Vaccines approved by the FDA are safe and effective. Just because the vaccine was developed quickly does not mean corners were cut on safety. The Pfizer vaccine has an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and under an EUA, the FDA authorizes the use of an unapproved medical product during a declared emergency. The FDA has already issued numerous EUAs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and will consider the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine candidate this week.
Myth: COVID-19 vaccines used fetal tissue to be developed.
Fact: The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines did not use fetal cells in the production of the vaccines.
Myth: The federal government will force citizens to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Fact: The federal government is not forcing you to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Health care is a personal choice and every individual has the right to choose whether getting the vaccine or not is right for them.
The approval of the Pfizer vaccine for emergency use is a historic achievement and a step forward in getting back to normal life. Thanks to President Trump’s steadfast work, it was approved five times faster than the fastest vaccine development in history and now is well on its way to protecting the most vulnerable among us.