Health district director: COVID vaccine risk minimal

    COVID vaccines continue to be intensely monitored for safety by the CDC, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, public health officials and other medical organizations.  
    There have been some adverse reactions to the vaccine, as there are with any vaccine, but they have been extremely minimal when compared to the millions of people in the U.S. who have received the vaccine without harm, said Myra Stoney, director of the SW Nebraska Public Health Department.
    She outlined some of the concerns:
     Myocarditis along with pericarditis (heart inflammation) are rare symptoms of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, reported primarily in young males ages 12-24 years and together have occurred in less than 0.0056% of all those who have received the vaccine. Both of these symptoms can be treated with medication and rest. In contrast, contracting the COVID-19 virus increases the risk nearly 16 times of having myocarditis, Stoney said.
     Cancer is a genetic disease meaning it is caused by changes to your genes. None of the COVID-19 vaccinations alter or change DNA in any way, she said.
     Blood clots have been reported with the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccination and have occurred in only 0.0004% of cases (or 4 in every 1 million people who receive the J&J vaccine). The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are recommended by the CDC over the J&J/Janssen vaccine, she noted.
    There have been reports of cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome following COVID-19 vaccinations. An analysis completed by the CDC showed “no increased risk of GBS after Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines).”
     These adverse reactions are minimal compared to the consequences of getting the virus and the effects experienced by some people during and after getting the disease, Stoney said. Besides the risk of hospitalization during COVID, the effect of Long COVID involves post-COVID symptoms which can last for weeks, months or even years and include fatigue, fever, difficulty breathing, chest pain, sleep problems, dizziness, problems with mental concentration, changes in smell or taste, anxiety and depression, among others. COVID-19 infections can also cause multi-organ effects which can increase the likelihood of developing new health conditions, she said.
     Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccinations are mRNA vaccines that have been fully approved by the FDA. mRNA vaccines have been studied for decades and cannot cause an infection nor do they contain a live virus, she  said.
    “These vaccines have gone through the same safety trials as any other vaccine on the market today,” she said.
     COVID-19 infection can be particularly hard on children, especially the very young, Stoney said.  
    “This country has seen 1,407 deaths of children under 18 years. To minimize the deaths of these children is disheartening, especially to those parents who experienced this profound sadness,” she added.
     In Nebraska alone there have been 5,378 deaths overall. COVID remains the third leading cause of death in the US since 2020.
    Classifying deaths accurately is very important and is done systematically because it provides crucial information about all diseases, Stoney said.
    A cause-of-death statement is an informed medical opinion that is based on sound medical judgment drawn from clinical training and experience, as well as knowledge of current disease states and local trends.
     According to Stoney, COVID vaccines do not contain ingredients from aborted fetal cells or any type of tissue cells.
    “This is a myth that is simply not true. Although the ingredients vary by manufacturer, the vaccines do contain harmless proteins, fats, sugars and salts,” she said.
     The bottom line is whether taking the vaccine or not is a personal choice.  
    “Everyone should be informed about the risks and benefits to make their own decisions. They should not, however, be misled with misinformation or shamed or ridiculed because of the decisions they make for themselves and their family,” she said.
    Stoney said SWNPHD office in McCook can be contacted for more resources of information, 308-345-4223.