The Covid-19 vaccine has been sought after for quite sometime. After the whirlwind of 2020, it is safe to say that the vaccines are coming out swiftly. The pandemic swept over our nation quickly and the outcomes were vast and devastating. In an interview with Dr. Michael Buratovich, a Professor of Biology here at SAU, some new information has came into light that will be interesting to us all in these confusing times.
One of the main questions that has been circling around is if the vaccine is safe to get. Dr. Buratovich believes it is extremely safe.
According to published data, there was a study conducted in 2020 where 18,260 people were given the actual vaccine and 18,846 were given a physiological saline. Out of those numbers, there were 8 Covid-19 cases from the vaccinated numbers and 162 Covid-19 cases from the saline numbers. Out of the 8 people that were vaccinated and got Covid-19, none of them had died or suffered any severe illness.
It is important to note that the leading professional medical agencies and organizations are looking at these vaccines and agreeing that they are safe and effective. Buratovich explained that out of the 45 million doses of the vaccine so far, the side effect profile has not been found to be any higher than other vaccines.
Should everyone get this vaccine if they are able to? Dr. Buratovich said yes. The higher the percentage of people that are vaccinated, the greater the barrier will be.
Dr. Buratovich also brought up the point about loving our neighbors and keeping them from harm. “The loving thing to do is just get vaccinated, it’s a tangible way to love your neighbor,” said Buratovich.
Dr. Buratovich explains that vaccines have driven many diseases into extinction, which is comforting to know and understand when making the decision to get the Covid-19 vaccine or not. For example, chicken pox is starting to be pushed to extinction along with shingles. This couldn’t have been accomplished without the help of a trusted vaccine.
Some final thoughts that Buratovich wanted to touch on were the myths surrounding the vaccine. The harm to fertility and other similar claims are myths being spread and have no actual data to support them. Another myth was that the vaccine could cause you to die. Buratovich explains that none of the cases of death after the vaccine were linked to the shot itself.
Dr. Buratovich encourages you to do your own research concerning these common misconceptions. The more you know, the better educated you will be concerning this important topic.
By: Emily Selby
