VAC TO THE FUTURE

The COVID-19 vaccine has been making its way to care homes and care workers since the middle of December and it really does seem that light is finally at the end of the tunnel. But we can’t ditch the face masks and hand sanitiser just yet; it could be several months until these, and other, restrictions are lifted while we wait for more of our population to get immunity from the vaccine. The more people that get vaccinated, the quicker we can all start enjoying life to the full again.

While most of us welcome the vaccine and a return to normality, there are some people who are concerned about taking it. The over-riding concern seems to be whether or not all of the safety checks have been thoroughly completed. There is a suspicion that it has been rushed through. There are even a few conspiracy theories out there… None of which have any credibility.

Whether or not you decide to get a vaccine is an individual decision. The vaccine won’t be compulsory. However, when making any decision it is worth considering that you're much less likely to become ill with Coronavirus if you have the vaccine. Keep in mind that most of the population will have to be vaccinated for this pandemic (and its restrictions on our way of life) to come to an end, so do your bit! If you’re concerned about the swift turn around time, just go online. There are numerous sites which explain how the global collaboration, previous research into SARS and early organisation of trials has resulted in such quick success. None of these have compromised on safety.

Be wary where you get your information from, too. If the person you’re talking to, the social media post you’re reading, or the YouTube video you’re watching doesn’t say where they’ve found the information they’re sharing, it’s worth being sceptical.

Find out for yourself from reliable sources like the NHS and The World Health Organisation before you make your decision. It affects us all.