COVID-19 Vaccines: Just the Facts! (Part 5)
Our series on pandemic myths and facts
Washington State Department of HealthFollow
Jun 12 · 4 min read
With everyone over 12 now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, people want to know more about the vaccines to decide if they are ready. We know that sorting through all the vaccine information out there can feel overwhelming. Sometimes, it’s even hard to tell what’s true and what’s not.
In this series, we’ve been sharing answers to some common questions heard at DOH to help people make informed decisions about the vaccines. Previously, we discussed questions concerning what’s in the vaccines, how to avoid scams, and more. In today’s edition, we’d like to address a few more questions we’ve heard at DOH. But as always, you should talk to your health care provider if you have other questions or concerns. They can help you decide what’s best for you and your health.
It’s my choice to get the vaccine. Why does it matter to anyone else if I skip it?
It is absolutely your choice to get a COVID-19 vaccine, but we need as many people as possible to get vaccinated to end this pandemic. It’s harder for the COVID-19 virus to spread when many people in a community are immune–through vaccination or recent infection. Simply put, the higher the vaccination rate, the lower the infection rate. That’s why it’s so important to get vaccinated. We want to protect others from catching COVID-19 so we can get back to doing some things we stopped due to the pandemic.
You’ve probably heard recently that COVID-19 cases are declining. This is a sign that the vaccines are working! But, un-vaccinated people can still catch the virus and spread it to others, and we still have a way to go to beat the virus. While some might be hesitant about the vaccine, others cannot get vaccinated for medical reasons. This leaves them especially vulnerable to COVID-19. And the virus is still evolving. It will continue to spread among unvaccinated people and mutate into new variants that are resistant to the vaccine’s protection.
While you get to decide if the vaccine is right for you, keep in mind that it protects more than just you. It also protects your family, neighbors, and the entire community.
If most cases of COVID-19 are mild, why do I need the vaccine?
COVID-19 vaccines prevent people from getting seriously sick or dying from COVID-19. It’s true that many people who get COVID-19 only have mild symptoms. But this virus is extremely unpredictable. Some people can get very sick or die from COVID-19, even young people with no chronic health conditions. Others, known as “COVID long-haulers” may get symptoms that last for months and affect their quality of life. And, we still don’t know all of the long-term effects of COVID-19 because it’s such a new virus.
The bottom line is that we don’t know if someone who gets COVID-19 will have mild symptoms or get seriously sick. So, we recommend that everyone over age 12 gets the vaccine. And the more people who get the vaccine, the closer we get to community immunity. Community immunity stops the virus from spreading and protects people who cannot get the vaccine for medical reasons.
More to come!
We know there are lots of myths and misinformation going around about COVID-19 and vaccines. And we want to make sure you have all the information you need before you get the shot. Stay tuned for more blog posts with answers to your questions! You can call 1–800–525–0127 and press # with your questions.
In the meantime, you can read part one, part two, part three, and part four of this blog series or check out our Frequently Asked Questions to get the facts.
More information
Information in this blog changes rapidly. Sign up to be notified whenever we post new articles.
Check the state’s COVID-19 website for up-to-date and reliable info at coronavirus.wa.gov.
The COVID-19 vaccine is now available to everyone 12 and older. For more information about the vaccine, visit CovidVaccineWA.org and use the vaccine locator tool to find an appointment. The COVID-19 vaccine is provided at no cost to you.
Answers to your questions or concerns about COVID-19 in Washington state may be found at our website. You can also contact the Department of Health call center at 1–800–525–0127 and press # from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday — Sunday and observed state holidays. Language assistance is available.