By Patrick Payumo
Although some are hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccination, many have received it already and others are signing up to get it as soon as possible.
Tracy Sherman, registered respiratory therapist and professor in the Cardiorespiratory Sciences Program at College of Southern Nevada, is fully vaccinated. “Because I keep up with published journal information, I had no concerns about the vaccine.”
Sherman said the advantages are innumerable but there are some disadvantages. “Some people are sick a couple days post vaccination as their own immune systems gear up.”
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, common side effects when getting the shots include the following: pain, redness and swelling on the arm that was injected, and overall tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever and nausea. If someone has an allergic reaction it is likely to be within four hours of getting a shot.
According to CDC COVID Data Tracker, as of April 25, in the United States there were 231 million people vaccinated, with 96 million of those fully vaccinated.
Collin Stewart, administrative assistant of Health Related Professions for CSN, is fully vaccinated. “I’ve already gotten both shots. There is some slight concern on my part due to the speed with which the vaccines were created and put into use.” Even with that concern, he stated, “If it protects me from spreading infection, then I am aiding in the defeat of the virus.”
“When the vaccine becomes available to everyone, I do plan on getting it,” said Jonathan Bernardo, CSN student. “Getting vaccinated will help reduce the spread of the virus and hopefully once everyone is vaccinated life will go back to how it was pre-covid.” He wants to get the vaccine to keep himself safe when traveling, going to Vegas Knights’ games and to protect his family who has health conditions.
Meiying Smith, CSN student, said, “I am planning on getting the vaccine as the sacrifice of two needles seems small compared to the chances of getting Covid and the long-term effects like losing taste or smell. I have also older people in my life who are more at risk and I would like to spare them any more chances of getting ill.”
Savannah Judnich, student at CSN, said she will be getting vaccinated. “I believe that the vaccine will help propel us to a safer future. Since I want to keep others and myself as healthy as possible, I would like to do my part in getting the vaccination.”
Marti Eisenloffel, student at CSN, said that he plans on being vaccinated but he is unsure of this vaccine because of the speed it came about.
One reason it was developed so quickly was because the whole world worked on it. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website stated, “Researchers around the world have been working hard to develop COVID-19 vaccines from the earliest stages of the pandemic.”
Sherman said, “We do not know how long the vaccine will last, or if there might be side effects years down the road. That said, the science behind mRNA vaccines is not new. It has not been tested on such a large scale, but on the small scale, it has been very safe.”
Guillermo Carrillo-Harding, CSN student, said, “I’ve actually already been vaccinated for Covid-19. The concerns I had before getting vaccinated were the side effects I could have experienced and how severe they may be. Luckily, I had no side effects at all and I’m doing just fine now.”
Judnich adds, “I would recommend people to further their research and outlook if scared because there is plenty of information on the vaccine to help gain one’s confidence.”
For more information on the vaccine and scheduling an appointment, visit Immunize Nevada at https://www.immunizenevada.org/covid-19-vaccine-locator.
CSN campuses have vaccination sites for anyone over 16 years old.
Coyote Student News at the College of Southern Nevada 