Making Decisions About Vaccines

Often times, viruses and bacteria change over time through a process called mutation, which produces new variants. Old vaccines do not always work against new variants. Additionally, no vaccine provides 100% protection. Vaccines can also lose their effectiveness over time. This decline in effectiveness is normal and does not mean the COVID-19 vaccines don’t work. Getting updated vaccine shots as...READ MORE

The COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna were created with a method that has been in development for years, so the companies could start the vaccine development process early in the pandemic. The vaccine developers didn’t skip any testing steps when making the vaccine. Studies found that these two vaccines are both about 95% effective, and reported no serious or...READ MORE

Anxiety related to COVID-19 vaccines is common due to uncertainties surrounding their development and potential side effects. However, it is important to explain that safety measures were not compromised, multiple vaccine options were explored simultaneously, and the vaccines underwent rigorous safety and efficacy testing. Remind them that temporary side effects, like those of the flu shot, may occur but indicate...READ MORE

The science is clear that vaccination saves lives. But there are still people who do not want to be vaccinated against COVID. Some people do not want to be vaccinated because they are concerned about things they have heard about vaccine ingredients; they are afraid of the side effects; they do not want government or their employer to force them...READ MORE

In a CDC survey conducted in Sep 2020, the most cited reasons for people to not get vaccinated were concerns about side effects and safety of the COVID-19 vaccine, waiting to see if the vaccine is safe and receiving it later, lack of trust in the government, and concern that COVID-19 vaccines were developed too quickly. ...READ MORE

There is a myth that COVID-19 is a hoax or that the disease is not very dangerous, that it’s just like the flu. These beliefs are not supported by evidence. COVID-19 is a deadly disease that can have long-lasting negative health outcomes....READ MORE

Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic has proven difficult due to widespread misinformation (or misunderstandings) and disinformation (or deliberate falsehood) about the virus, especially online such as though social media, as well as on the radio or TV. Here are some examples of untrue beliefs about vaccines: It is important to seek out information about COVID-19 from trusted sources of information,...READ MORE

Speaking with people you love about a topic like vaccines can be tough. When attempting to engage loved ones in a conversation about vaccines there are some general tips to keep things positive and hopefully help share information about vaccines that can lead to more people getting vaccinated. Some tips include: Don’t get discouraged and keep trying next time...READ MORE

The United States recommends a number of vaccines in childhood for a variety of reasons including: In order for children to attend school in Alaska, they are required to have the following vaccinations: Each vaccine has different dosing requirements and schedules, so it is important to visit the CDC or other healthcare website, or your local physician/pediatrician to learn more...READ MORE

Influenza, also called the flu, is a serious illness. Every year, 35-75 million people in the US get the flu, 400,000-900,000 people are hospitalized from the flu every year, and 20,000-100,000 people die from the flu every year. Getting a flu vaccine each season can help protect you from getting seriously sick from the flu. Flu vaccines help weaken the...READ MORE