COVID-19 Vaccines: 7 Things Your Dentist Wants You to Know

1. The Vaccines are Safe and Effective

As doctors of oral health, credible scientific information is important to us when recommending treatments for our patients. While these vaccines were developed in a shorter time frame than some other vaccines, it’s important to know that the science behind them was not rushed. And by mid-November, 193 million people in the US were fully vaccinated.

As an additional safety measure, the CDC has set up expanded safety monitoring systems like the V-Safe smartphone tool to monitor vaccinations in real time. These systems have shown that serious side effects are rare. 

2. The Vaccine Won’t Make You Sick, But It Does Have Some Side Effects

There is no possible way COVID-19 vaccines can give you COVID-19. They might, however, come with some side effects that make you feel uncomfortable for a short time.

Because vaccines teach your body how to recognize and fight off a COVID-19 infection, you might feel some of the symptoms you’d get if your body were fighting off the real virus, such as a fever, according to the CDC. While unpleasant, this is actually a sign the vaccine is working in your body.

3. You Should Still Get the Vaccine Even If You’ve Had COVID-19

Those who have recovered from COVID-19 have some natural immunity that may protect them from getting sick again. Data from the CDC shows that vaccination of people who have had COVID-19 significantly improves their level of protection against being infected again and against having serious COVID-19 illness. The CDC recommends that people who’ve had COVID-19 still get the vaccine.

4. Get All Recommended Doses

Generally, if you are receiving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, you need two doses to get the same level of efficacy seen in the clinical trials. For the Pfizer vaccine, the second dose is recommended three weeks after the first. For the Moderna vaccine, the second dose is recommended four weeks after the first. And if you get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you only need a single dose.

Everyone 16 and older can get a booster shot. If you received Moderna or Pfizer, you can get a booster six months after your second dose. If you received Johnson & Johnson, you are eligible for a booster two months after their first dose.

You can also choose to “mix or match” your booster vaccine. The CDC’s recommendations allow for people to choose whether to receive the same vaccine as their initial doses or a different booster type. Visit the CDC’s website for the most up-to-date guidance around boosters or talk to your healthcare provide.

5. Vaccine Eligibility Expands to All Americans 5 and Older 

• Anyone 5 and older can now receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Children and adolescents 5 – 17 are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine, and anyone 18 or older may receive any of the currently available vaccines.

6. Mask Guidance: Depends on the Environment

Vaccines can help you resume the activities you enjoyed doing most before the pandemic. Being vaccinated is your best protection against becoming seriously ill with COVID-19. 

However, with the rise of the more infectious Delta and now the Omicron variant, the CDC has updated its guidance to recommend that everyone – regardless of vaccination status – wear masks in public indoor settings and even outside in areas with crowds. This is because these variants are very effective at infecting people who aren’t vaccinated, including those too young to be vaccinated. These variants can even infect some people who have been vaccinated and, even though the vaccine prevents them from getting seriously ill, they can spread the virus to others.
 

7. You Can Get the Vaccine If You Are Planning to Get Pregnant

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) recommends vaccination for those who are pregnant. Whether you are planning to get pregnant soon or in the future, you should still get the vaccine when it is available to you. The CDC states there is no evidence that the antibodies created from COVID-19 vaccines will cause problems with a pregnancy. The CDC also says there is no evidence that fertility issues are a side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine, or any other vaccine.

At Wexford Dental Clinic we know how crazy the world is around us right now and how unpredictable everything is. We are here to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Feel free to give us a call at 416 222 8296 at anytime and one of our staff members will be more than happy to assist you in any questions you have. We are here to provide you and your family with safe, soothing, affordable dentistry here in Scarborough.