Have you thought about getting the COVID-19 vaccine?

Covid-19 was first found in the US in January of 2020. The covid vaccine is a shot that is given in two doses about 21 days apart to help lower your chances of getting the virus. It is currently only given to ages 16 and older, but it is in the trial stage to be given to kids as young as 12 years old. People won’t be protected by the vaccine til two weeks after getting the second dose. The vaccine will be free to those who get it and is paid for through taxes.

There are some things to think about when considering getting the vaccine. For those who have allergies, are pregnant or breastfeeding, have tested positive for the virus before, or have underlying medical conditions, they should check with their doctor and even then, think twice about choosing to get the vaccine. Some complications that could be experienced from the vaccine are injection site pain, headaches, tiredness, and muscle aches. These are only short-term effects that could be experienced, and so far, studies have not shown any possible long-term effects. Those who have tested positive for covid before should wait 90 days before getting the vaccine.

Kendra Lowry did not experience many side effects from her first shot.

“My only side effect from the first shot was a sore arm; it felt like I had been punched in the arm,'' Lowry said. “I have heard that a lot of people get sick for 24-36 hours after the second shot. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Annie Forsyth, AEA Social Studies teacher, said the reason she was nervous about the vaccine was “the possible unknown side effects.”

All the teachers went to the same spot to get the vaccine.

“Very smooth and painless,” said AEA high school Science teacher, Jeanette Thevenin. “As educators, we all went to one central location. While there we were pushed through lines to a nurse who administered the shot, the entire process took around 5 minutes and then a 15 minute waiting period to ensure we didn’t have any negative reactions.”

Side effects from the vaccine are common but more common when getting the second shot. Most will feel the effects within 3 days after getting the shot, and they will only last 1-3 days. The most common side effects could be a fever or chills, nausea or vomiting, headaches, and tiredness. About 372 of every million doses given of the vaccine lead to non-serious side effects.