Articles related to VACCINES/IMMUNIZATION

Simone Gold, MD, JD, a California doctor, and founder of America’s Frontline Doctors who has touted the benefits of hydroxychloroquine and raised unfounded concerns about the COVID-19 vaccines, admitted to the Washington Post that she joined the mob that stormed the Capitol last Wednesday. She added that she followed a crowd inside the building and assumed it was legal to do so.

Rehabilitation psychologist Abigail Hardin, PhD, of Rush University Medical Center offers some advice to those waiting for the COVID-19 vaccine, which is especially important given that the vaccines don’t take full effect (around 95% immunity) until days or weeks a number of days after the second dose. She recommends taking a few key steps now to reduce some of the challenges and anxieties that come with a serious illness.

According to several polls (though some said they might change their minds for various reasons), around 4 in 10 Americans have said they will not get a coronavirus vaccine. When it comes to the safety of these vaccines, however, there are good reasons to be confident already. Here are nine explanations to give to a patient, friend, or family member that may be skeptical of the shots.

The first doses of COVID-19 vaccines will be arriving in a few weeks, both of which use messenger RNA (mRNA) technology to induce an immune response. Biologically, mRNA is transcribed from DNA and travels into a cell’s cytoplasm where it is translated by ribosomes into proteins. For those who want more information on the history and science of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics, here’s a primer.

The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) stated goal for deploying a COVID-19 vaccine is “to decrease death and serious disease as much as possible.” According to José Romero, MD, Chair of the ACIP, the decision to vaccinate health care workers first is based on the actions that will help control the pandemic fastest.

To help ready physicians with sound, scientific knowledge—untarnished by political views—essential to combating COVID-19, the Annals of Internal Medicine and the American College of Physicians hosted the COVID-19 Vaccine Forum on 10/16/20 to offer current, evidence-based information related to the science, approval processes, and development of clinical recommendations for vaccines.