Although there already are two COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the United States, many are still hesitant about getting vaccinated once their priority group is called. According to a recent survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, an estimated 27% of Americans are vaccine-hesitant, saying they “probably or definitely would not get a COVID-19 vaccine even if it were available for free and deemed safe by scientists.”
We fully understand people’s concerns about the new vaccine. However, getting vaccinated is the best way for them to reach effective health prevention & promotion.
Yes, the speed at which Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna developed their vaccines is a stark contrast compared to how long other human disease vaccines were created. But, it wasn’t because of any shortcuts taken by manufacturers.
“People have to realize that the vaccines are actually developed based on years and years of experience,” said Timothy Brewer, MD, an epidemiologist and professor of medicine at UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health. “For example, the Moderna vaccine took the platform (mRNA) that they had for a MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) vaccine, and they swapped out the MERs genetic code and swapped in the SARS-CoV-2 genetic code. So, these vaccines didn’t come out of nowhere; they came out of years of research and advances in technology.”
Ken Park MD PLLC is a licensed internal medicine physician in McKinney, Texas. Should you have further questions about vaccinations or other preventive measures you can take against disease, he would be more than happy to help.
We also provide telemedicine services in Texas for patients who want to receive consultations in the comfort of their homes.
Contact us today for details.