Letter From The President

Busting Myths Around the COVID-19 VACCINE

The COVID-19 vaccine was created in less than a year. This expedited time frame for this vaccine has caused panic. In order to reduce stress, we have brought research from the top organizations to bust myths around the COVID-19 vaccines.

The COVID-19 vaccines are not safe.

False. COVID-19 vaccines are safe. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were many safety precautions taken before the authorization of the COVID-19 vaccines. These safety precautions include data review by a safety monitoring board and large clinical trials held around the United States.

There are benefits to an mRNA vaccine.

True. The benefits of an mRNA vaccine is shorter manufacturing times and a potential for targeting multiple diseases. According to the CDC, the development of mRNA vaccines is faster than traditional methods. This is because mRNA vaccines are developed by using a DNA template and materials already available in the laboratory. The CDC also states that in the future, mRNA vaccines may be able to target multiple diseases in one vaccination.

The COVID-19 vaccine changes your DNA.

False. According to the CDC, the mRNA strand never enters the cell’s nucleus (the nucleus is where your DNA is located), rather it enters the lymph nodes of the vaccination center.

mRNA vaccines have been studied for decades.

True. It is true that these are the first licensed mRNA vaccines in the United States, but according to the CDC, researchers have been studying mRNA vaccines for decades.

FAST FACTS

What You Didn’t Know About PAD

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is caused by the buildup of plaque in the vessels of the legs. Although you may not hear of PAD very often, the mortality rate for PAD is higher than most cancers. You can reduce your risk for PAD by ensuring your blood pressure and cholesterol are controlled and practicing an overall healthy diet.