Health & Safety Toolkit
Below are some of the myths that were brought to our attention, and the truth about what we know today.
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To view more FAQs on the vaccine, visit the Medical College’s website at covid19.mcw.edu/vaccine-basics
Myths about the Vaccines
Developing the vaccines was a worldwide collaboration. Billions of dollars were invested in multiple companies and vaccine platforms at once to increase the likelihood of having at least one vaccine, if not multiple vaccines, developed, evaluated and produced.
Both the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines have undergone extensive study and review with tens of thousands of immunizations already accomplished and all data suggest that the vaccines are not only safe but highly effective. This process involves gathering data about the effectiveness and potential effects of the vaccines that are reviewed by multiple federal agencies responsible for public health and safety. The vaccines have also been tested among a broad range of ages, races, ethnicities, and people with pre-existing medical conditions. These safety approval boards include scientists and experts in infectious disease and vaccination that have no connection with the companies producing the vaccines. These individuals evaluate the safety based entirely on the data from the clinical trials. The safety standards for vaccines are even more strict than other medical interventions as these are given to potentially millions of healthy people. The speed of the COVID-19 vaccine development up to the approval stage underscores the advancement in scientific research and is based on decades of experience with production of vaccines for hundreds of other diseases. It does not indicate rushing of the regulatory checks and approval processes.
The COVID-19 vaccines do not contain virus or virus particles. Thus, it is impossible to get COVID-19 from the vaccine. You will not be contagious or shed live virus after getting vaccinated.
The companies that make these vaccines can only make so many at a time, so the vaccines are being distributed in phases, with priority given to people with greatest need. They won’t be widely available to the general population until probably late spring.
Then, in order to achieve what’s called herd immunity – the point at which the disease is no longer likely to spread – about 70% of the population will need to have been vaccinated and the local positivity rate will need to be below 5%. For now, we should all continue to do our part to help slow the spread of the virus, including wearing a mask, washing our hands and physical distancing.
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are both mRNA vaccines that do not contain live virus. Because these vaccines are not composed of live virus, experts from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) do not believe vaccination will cause an increased risk of infertility, first or second trimester loss, stillbirth or congenital anomalies. Additionally, there is no reason to delay pregnancy attempts because of vaccination administration or to defer fertility treatments until the second dose has been administered. We recommended that you talk with your primary care provider or physician to learn more.
The vaccine trials were designed to prevent exposed individuals from getting sick, and they are very effective at that. We do not have enough public health data yet to determine if it prevents transmission. The vaccines work by teaching our immune system to recognize the virus and create antibodies to prevent infection. These antibodies act within our bodies. There also are antibodies that react in our nasal passage and respiratory tract and scientists are still studying whether the vaccines create those antibodies as well so that the virus cannot be transmitted to others.
Given the limited information currently available, vaccinated persons should continue to follow all current guidance to protect themselves and others. This includes continuing to wear a mask around others, washing your hands and practicing physical distancing.
While it’s true that most people who get COVID-19 are able to recover, it’s also true that some people develop severe complications. The disease can damage the lungs, heart and brain, and may also cause other long-term health problems that experts are still working to understand.
According to the CDC website, there is not enough information currently available to say if or for how long after infection someone is protected from getting COVID-19 again; this is called natural immunity. Early evidence suggests natural immunity from COVID-19 may not last very long, but more studies are needed to better understand this. The vaccines have been specifically designed to generate an effective immune response.
The COVID-19 mRNA vaccine does not interact with DNA in any way. The vaccines work by training cells to make a protein that triggers the immune response. They do not enter the cell’s nucleus, where DNA is stored.
There are no tracking devices in the COVID-19 vaccines. The complete list of ingredients for each vaccine can be found on the CDC’s website.
Myths about consuming food & drinks and other supplements
No, you cannot.
Disinfectants, bleach, and soap and water are used to clean surfaces and should never be swallowed or injected into the body. These products are extremely toxic and deadly. Call 911 if this occurs. While hand sanitizers do contain alcohol, they are made to be safe for use on hands.
No home remedies can protect against COVID-19. The best approach is to wash your hands frequently, for 20 seconds at a time, to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, to wear a mask in public, and to avoid crowded places.
There is no proof that taking a vitamin D supplement can prevent or treat COVID-19. There simply isn’t enough data, according to the National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization.
While scientists are confident that the virus started in animals, there is no evidence that soup was involved.
Drinking water is essential to keeping your body functioning properly and feeling healthy. You should keep drinking water to remain hydrated. However, drinking water does not prevent the virus from entering your lungs and making you sick. The best use of water for COVID-19 prevention is using it to wash your hands.
Antibiotics treat bacteria, not viruses. COVID-19 is caused by a virus. Therefore, antibiotics should not be used for prevention or treatment. However, some people who are hospitalized for COVID-19 may receive antibiotics because they have a different bacterial infection at the same time.
Myths about masks
- Do not move the cloth mask from your mouth and nose after you put it on.
- Do not touch the cloth mask, or your face, eyes, nose, and mouth while you are wearing it.
- Wash your hands before and after putting on a cloth mask.
- Wash your cloth mask often, especially after sneezing or coughing.
- Do not place a cloth mask on children under 2 years old or someone who has difficulty breathing or who can’t remove it on their own.
Cloth masks prevent the spread of coronavirus. We continue to learn about this virus and now know that cloth masks decrease the spread of infectious droplets.
Fake cards and flyers, claiming that the bearer is exempt from mask-wearing regulations, have shown up in some areas with official-looking logos or government insignias on them. They claim that the person carrying them has a physical or mental condition covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that makes them unable to wear a face mask or covering. The United States Department of Justice has issued a statement about the mask exemptions, explaining that they are fake and fraudulent. The cards are not issued by the U.S. government and are not backed by the ADA.
A cloth mask does not provide an airtight fit across the face. The CO2 completely escapes into the air through and around the sides of the cloth mask when you breathe out or talk. CO2 is small enough to easily pass through any cloth mask material. In contrast, the virus that causes COVID-19 is much larger than CO2, so it cannot pass as easily through a properly designed and properly worn cloth mask.
Myths about Contracting and Spreading COVID-19
You can get COVID-19 no matter how warm or cold the weather is.
There’s no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread through pools. Proper operation, maintenance and disinfection of pools (with chlorine or bromine) should remove or inactivate the virus. Still keep 6 feet of distance between yourself and others. Avoid public changing rooms if possible.
The virus that causes COVID-19 has been found in the feces of some patients diagnosed with COVID-19. However, it is unclear whether the virus found in feces may be capable of causing COVID-19. There has not been any confirmed report of the virus spreading from feces to a person.
Hand dryers do not kill the COVID-19 virus. The best way to protect yourself and others from the virus is to wash your hands with soap and water (or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer) frequently for at least 20 seconds at a time.
Although the virus can survive for a short period on some surfaces, it is unlikely to be spread from domestic or international mail, products, or packaging.
At this time, there is no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. Based on the limited information available to date, the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered to be low.
Although the virus can survive for a short period on some surfaces, it is unlikely to be spread from domestic or international mail, products, or packaging.
Visiting a hospital or clinic can be quite nerve-racking, but know that if you are sick, hospitals and clinics are very safe places to visit. They are taking extraordinary measures to keep you and the hospital staff safe. This includes proper hand hygiene, disinfecting surfaces, maintaining proper physical distancing among staff and patients, and wearing proper masks to prevent droplets from spreading.
The longer a person is close to someone with the infection, the likelier the virus will be transmitted. However, the virus can pass from person to person in under 10 minutes.
The CDC recommends that you watch for symptoms until 14 days after exposure. If you have symptoms, immediately self-isolate and contact your local public health authority or healthcare provider. Wear a mask, stay at least 6 feet from others, wash your hands, avoid crowds, and take other steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of a community becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. As a result, the whole community becomes protected — not just those who are immune. There are some significant problems with relying on community infection to create herd immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19. First, it isn’t yet clear if infection with the COVID-19 virus, or natural immunity, makes a person immune to future infection. If it does not create immunity, herd immunity will not work. Natural immunity is not as effective as immunity developed following vaccination. Also, the resulting human illness, suffering and death makes natural immunity impractical and unethical.
MYTHS ABOUT COVID-19 vs. the FLU VIRUS
- COVID-19 is 10 times more deadly than the flu.
- Infected individuals may not show symptoms for up to a week.
- The mortality rate of COVID-19 is at least 10 times that of the flu.
- 1 in 6 people with COVID-19 require hospitalization.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is different from the families of viruses that cause the common cold or season influenza.
The flu vaccine does not prevent COVID-19, but flu vaccines help with the prevention and spread of influenza as well as reduce hospitalizations and the duration or severity of viral infections. People are encouraged to get vaccinated every year. If more than 40% of Wisconsinites received the vaccine each year, communities would see less transmission and fewer serious complications.
Wearing face masks, combined with other preventive measures, such as frequent hand-washing and social distancing, can help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Despite these efforts, it is more important than ever to get the influenza vaccine, also known as a flu shot. If more people are vaccinated for the flu, fewer people will become sick with the flu and fewer patients will require hospitalization. When there are fewer flu cases, hospital resources are freed up for COVID-19 patients in the event of surges.
Myths about where COVID-19 Originated
The novel (new) coronavirus first appeared in China. Epidemiologists did field investigations to find out how the new virus started. They conducted surveys in the community and in health facilities and collected nose and throat specimens for lab analyses. These investigations showed them who was infected, when they became sick, and where they had been just before they got sick. Using this information, epidemiologists determined that the virus possibly came from an animal sold at a market.
Scientists say the molecular structure of the COVID-19 virus rules out the possibility that the virus was created in a lab.
COVID-19 is a real disease that has affected the lives of millions worldwide. There is no connection between the rollout of 5G technology and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Myths about COVID-19 and Age
While fewer children have been sick with COVID-19 compared to adults, children can be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and can get sick from COVID-19. Also, children who have COVID-19 but have no symptoms (“asymptomatic”) can still spread the virus to others. Most children with COVID-19 have mild symptoms or have no symptoms at all. However, some children can get severely ill from COVID-19.
People of any age can become infected with COVID-19. However, older adults and individuals with preexisting health conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, or asthma, are more likely to become severely ill from it. While people under 40, including children, are less likely to become severely ill with COVID-19, the disease can lead to complications and death in anyone.
Myths about specific theories and beliefs
While COVID-19 is more dangerous than influenza viruses, it is not the deadliest virus that people have faced. Others, such as the Ebola virus, have higher mortality rates.
While it’s true that most people who get COVID-19 are able to recover, it’s also true that some people develop severe complications. The disease can damage the lungs, heart and brain, and may also cause other long-term health problems that experts are still working to understand.
Thermal scanners can detect whether someone has a fever, which is a symptom of many different health issues, and is only one common symptom of COVID-19. So, thermal cameras will miss infected people who do not have a fever yet or are currently showing no symptoms at all.
As of Jan. 23, 2.12 million people have died worldwide as a result of COVID-19. This includes 417,000 in the United States and nearly 6,200 in Wisconsin. While many of the people who died may have had underlying health conditions like heart or lung conditions, the majority of those with these underlying conditions could have lived much longer if they hadn’t contracted COVID-19.
The rise in infections is not related to increased testing but the increased percentage of people who tested positive. This increased percentage in positive tests means virus is more quickly spreading in our communities.