COVID-19 Vaccine

Fact: No, COVID-19 vaccines have not been linked to infertility or miscarriage. A sophisticated disinformation campaign has been circulating online, claiming that antibodies to the spike protein of COVID-19 produced from these vaccines will bind to placental proteins and prevent pregnancy. This disinformation is thought to originate from internet postings by a former scientist known to hold anti-vaccine views.  

These postings are not scientifically plausible, as COVID-19 infection has not been linked to infertility. Also, no other viral infection or vaccination-inducing immunity by similar mechanisms has been shown to cause infertility. Antibodies to the spike protein have not been linked to infertility after COVID-19 infection. There is no scientific reason to believe this will change after vaccination for COVID-19.

While there are no formal studies, the best evidence comes from women who got sick with COVID-19 while pregnant. While data clearly indicate pregnant women are at higher risk of hospitalization due to COVID-19 infection, there is no evidence of increased miscarriage rates.

During natural infection, the immune system generates the same antibodies to the spike protein that COVID-19 vaccines would. Thus, if COVID-19 affected fertility, there already would be an increase in miscarriage rates in women infected with COVID-19. This has not happened.

Fact: The first vaccines use messenger RNA to trigger an immune response—they will not do anything to the DNA of your cells. They do not even enter the nucleus of the cell where the DNA lives.

Fact: There is no vaccine microchip. The vaccine cannot track people or gather personal information.

Fact: After being vaccinated, it is unknown whether you can still transmit the virus. Continued mask usage is recommended until we know more. However, the vaccines currently available decrease the risk of getting symptoms from COVID-19 by 95%! The benefit of the vaccine is that you are very unlikely to get sick from COVID-19, and therefore can avoid the complications of the infection including death.

Fact: COVID-19 vaccines have short-term mild or moderate vaccine reactions that resolve without complication. About 15% of people developed short lived symptoms at the site of injection. 50% developed systemic reactions like headache, fatigue, muscle pain, or chills, and less commonly fever. Keep in mind that these side effects are indicators that your immune system is responding to the vaccine and are common when receiving vaccines.

Fact: Early evidence suggests natural immunity may not last long, getting the vaccine is recommended. About 10% of people may not have strong or lasting immunity to COVID-19, especially if their infection was mild. Vaccines provide you with the perfect formula needed to have a strong antibody response so the virus doesn’t overwhelm your body.

Fact: Due to the emergency of the global pandemic, a surplus of pharmaceutical companies poured money into the rapid development of the vaccine. This is not true for most other vaccine production. This does not mean safety protocols and proper testing were bypassed. The COVID-19 vaccines have still gone through the usual phase 1, 2, and 3 studies before being approved for emergency use authorization.

Fact: The COVID-19 vaccines currently being developed in the U.S don’t use the live virus that causes COVID-19. But keep in mind that it will take a few weeks for your body to build immunity after getting a COVID-19 vaccination. As a result, it’s possible that you could become infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or after being vaccinated.

Fact: COVID-19 can cause severe medical complications and lead to death in some people. There is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you. If you get COVID-19, you could spread the disease to family, friends, and others around you. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can help protect you by creating an antibody response.

Fact: Circulating on social media is the claim that COVID-19’s mortality rate is 1%-2% and that people should not be vaccinated against a virus with a high survival rate. However, a 1% mortality rate is 10 times more lethal than the seasonal flu. In addition, some people have very prolonged symptoms and may have long term effects of the virus. While some people that receive the vaccine may develop symptoms as their immune system responds, remember that this is common when receiving any vaccine and not considered serious or life threatening. 

Fact: The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were not created with, and do not require, the use of fetal cell cultures for production.