In Indiana, people with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) can now get the COVID-19 vaccine. You may be thinking about whether or not you should get it. Here are some things to think about as you make your decision.
Is the vaccine safe?
Yes. The COVID-19 vaccine was very carefully studied. Thousands of people got it as part of this study. The study is now over, and the vaccine is proven to be safe. If you get the vaccine, you will not be a "guinea pig," or part of a study, but just another regular person who got the vaccine. Millions of people have gotten the vaccine. It is safe for people who have SCD to get the vaccine.
About 10%, or 1 in 10, of the people who got the vaccine as part of the study were Black. In the past, the health care system has not included Black people in safe medical studies. About 70% of Black Americans believe they are treated unfairly based on race when they seek medical care. Many Black people do not trust the health care system because the Black community has been treated so badly. This mistreatment includes medical experiments on slaves, the Tuskegee syphilis study, and present day stories like Dr. Susan Moore. But, more and more Black people are working in health care and science in the hopes of improving this broken relationship. Black doctors and scientists were an important part of the group that made the vaccine. Many Black organizations have worked hard to make sure the vaccine is safe and effective for the Black community. There are many Black coalitions of doctors, scientists, and community workers who have gathered information that you can review. You can find links to this information here.
Yes. The COVID-19 vaccine was very carefully studied. Thousands of people got it as part of this study. The study is now over, and the vaccine is proven to be safe. If you get the vaccine, you will not be a "guinea pig," or part of a study, but just another regular person who got the vaccine. Millions of people have gotten the vaccine. It is safe for people who have SCD to get the vaccine.
About 10%, or 1 in 10, of the people who got the vaccine as part of the study were Black. In the past, the health care system has not included Black people in safe medical studies. About 70% of Black Americans believe they are treated unfairly based on race when they seek medical care. Many Black people do not trust the health care system because the Black community has been treated so badly. This mistreatment includes medical experiments on slaves, the Tuskegee syphilis study, and present day stories like Dr. Susan Moore. But, more and more Black people are working in health care and science in the hopes of improving this broken relationship. Black doctors and scientists were an important part of the group that made the vaccine. Many Black organizations have worked hard to make sure the vaccine is safe and effective for the Black community. There are many Black coalitions of doctors, scientists, and community workers who have gathered information that you can review. You can find links to this information here.
How was the vaccine created so quickly?
COVID-19 is caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2. This virus is a coronavirus. There are hundreds of different coronaviruses. Most of them do not make humans very sick, but cause mild illness like a cold. There are two other rare coronaviruses that cause serious illness. These illnesses are called SARS and MERS. When MERS first appeared, in 2012, scientists began working on a vaccine. This work laid the groundwork for creating a COVID-19 vaccine, since these viruses are related.
Normally, a small group of scientists might be working on a vaccine. But, because COVID-19 affected the entire world so quickly, scientists from all over the world worked together and shared their findings with each other so that a vaccine could be developed more quickly. Vaccines are also very expensive to create. But governments all over the world gave money to scientists so they would have all the resources they needed. In fact, governments took the risk of paying to have the vaccine produced while it was still being studied. That way, if it was proven to work, people would not have to wait any longer to begin getting the vaccine.
Vaccines must be tested in small groups before they can be given to lots of people. This is called a vaccine trial. You can find more information about vaccine trials here.
COVID-19 is caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2. This virus is a coronavirus. There are hundreds of different coronaviruses. Most of them do not make humans very sick, but cause mild illness like a cold. There are two other rare coronaviruses that cause serious illness. These illnesses are called SARS and MERS. When MERS first appeared, in 2012, scientists began working on a vaccine. This work laid the groundwork for creating a COVID-19 vaccine, since these viruses are related.
Normally, a small group of scientists might be working on a vaccine. But, because COVID-19 affected the entire world so quickly, scientists from all over the world worked together and shared their findings with each other so that a vaccine could be developed more quickly. Vaccines are also very expensive to create. But governments all over the world gave money to scientists so they would have all the resources they needed. In fact, governments took the risk of paying to have the vaccine produced while it was still being studied. That way, if it was proven to work, people would not have to wait any longer to begin getting the vaccine.
Vaccines must be tested in small groups before they can be given to lots of people. This is called a vaccine trial. You can find more information about vaccine trials here.
Why should I get the vaccine?
The COVID-19 vaccine makes it much less likely that you will get COVID-19. While a very small number of people who got the vaccine during the trial still got COVID, the vaccine protected them from getting very sick. The vaccine can protect you from having to go to the hospital because of COVID-19.
The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America recommends that people with SCD get the COVID vaccine when it is available to them, because they are at high risk of getting very sick if they get COVID-19.
The COVID-19 vaccine makes it much less likely that you will get COVID-19. While a very small number of people who got the vaccine during the trial still got COVID, the vaccine protected them from getting very sick. The vaccine can protect you from having to go to the hospital because of COVID-19.
The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America recommends that people with SCD get the COVID vaccine when it is available to them, because they are at high risk of getting very sick if they get COVID-19.
Will the vaccine work as well for people with SCD as it does for everyone else?
The vaccine studies did not check to see if the vaccine was as effective for people with SCD as it was for everyone else. But, there is no reason to believe it is not as effective in people with SCD. Nothing about having SCD should make the vaccine less effective for you.
The vaccine studies did not check to see if the vaccine was as effective for people with SCD as it was for everyone else. But, there is no reason to believe it is not as effective in people with SCD. Nothing about having SCD should make the vaccine less effective for you.
What are the side effects of the vaccine? Will the side effects cause a crisis?
The most common side effects are pain at the injection site, fever, and chills. These side effects are normal signs that your body is building protection to the virus. These side effects tend to be mild or moderate and go away on their own within 1-2 days. These symptoms mean the vaccine is actually working! Your body is learning how to fight COVID-19 when you have these symptoms.
The vaccine should not cause a crisis. If you are feeling anxious about the side effects, try to remember that they are a normal part of your body's reaction to the vaccine. They are not the start of a crisis.
The most common side effects are pain at the injection site, fever, and chills. These side effects are normal signs that your body is building protection to the virus. These side effects tend to be mild or moderate and go away on their own within 1-2 days. These symptoms mean the vaccine is actually working! Your body is learning how to fight COVID-19 when you have these symptoms.
The vaccine should not cause a crisis. If you are feeling anxious about the side effects, try to remember that they are a normal part of your body's reaction to the vaccine. They are not the start of a crisis.
What should I do before I get the vaccine?
Be sure to drink plenty of fluids. Make a plan to clear your schedule for a few days after the vaccine, if you can. That way you can rest if you need to. Do not take pain medicine before you get the vaccine. There is a chance that your body will not develop enough of a response to the vaccine if you take pain medicine before you get it.
Be sure to drink plenty of fluids. Make a plan to clear your schedule for a few days after the vaccine, if you can. That way you can rest if you need to. Do not take pain medicine before you get the vaccine. There is a chance that your body will not develop enough of a response to the vaccine if you take pain medicine before you get it.
What should I do after I get the vaccine?
If you need pain medicine after the vaccine, it's fine to take some as you need it. Allow your body to rest if you are not feeling well after the vaccine. Remember that vaccine side effects are normal and not a sign you are going into crisis.
Even after you get the vaccine, you will still need to wear a mask in public and stay 6 feet away from people you don't live with. This is to help protect other people in your community who have not had the vaccine yet.
If you need pain medicine after the vaccine, it's fine to take some as you need it. Allow your body to rest if you are not feeling well after the vaccine. Remember that vaccine side effects are normal and not a sign you are going into crisis.
Even after you get the vaccine, you will still need to wear a mask in public and stay 6 feet away from people you don't live with. This is to help protect other people in your community who have not had the vaccine yet.
What happens if I don't get the vaccine?
If you choose not to get the vaccine, you are at higher risk to get COVID-19. People with SCD who get COVID-19 are more likely than other people to get very sick and have to stay in the hospital. They are also more likely to die from COVID-19.
We don't know yet how COVID-19 might affect people long-term who get it and survive. It might damage your health in ways that we don't know about yet.
If you choose not to get the vaccine, you are at higher risk to get COVID-19. People with SCD who get COVID-19 are more likely than other people to get very sick and have to stay in the hospital. They are also more likely to die from COVID-19.
We don't know yet how COVID-19 might affect people long-term who get it and survive. It might damage your health in ways that we don't know about yet.
What else do I need to know?
There are a couple different types of COVID-19 vaccines. In the U.S., the vaccines that were approved were made by three different companies, Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require that you get two shots, about one month apart. If you don't get two shots, the vaccine may not protect you as well. The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is only one shot.
Not everyone can get the vaccine. You must be at least 6 months old to get the vaccine. If you are allergic to any other vaccines, you should talk to your provider before you get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Most people can now get a booster shot if you already got a COVID-19 vaccine. Your booster shot should be scheduled for at least 6 months after your last COVID-19 vaccine. Your booster shot doesn't have to be the same type as your original vaccine. You can check to see if you can get a booster here.
There are a couple different types of COVID-19 vaccines. In the U.S., the vaccines that were approved were made by three different companies, Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require that you get two shots, about one month apart. If you don't get two shots, the vaccine may not protect you as well. The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is only one shot.
Not everyone can get the vaccine. You must be at least 6 months old to get the vaccine. If you are allergic to any other vaccines, you should talk to your provider before you get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Most people can now get a booster shot if you already got a COVID-19 vaccine. Your booster shot should be scheduled for at least 6 months after your last COVID-19 vaccine. Your booster shot doesn't have to be the same type as your original vaccine. You can check to see if you can get a booster here.
I am ready to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine.
If you want to start your COVID-19 vaccine or get your booster, you can register here. If you have questions about when you will hear from the state or about this process, please call your sickle cell provider.
If you want to start your COVID-19 vaccine or get your booster, you can register here. If you have questions about when you will hear from the state or about this process, please call your sickle cell provider.