Get the Vaccine
Everyone 12 years of age and older is now eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Visit the OCHCA for more information and to find a vaccine clinic in your area.
Why Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?
- COVID-19 vaccine will protect you from getting severe disease, will keep you out of the hospital, and will protect people around you.
- Once you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing more such as gathering indoors without masks with others who are fully vaccinated. However, we are still learning how vaccines affect the spread of COVID-19, so you should still take precautions in public such as wearing masks and social distancing.
- COVID-19 vaccination is a safer way to help build protection. Based on current data, the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risk of vaccination as well as the risk of disease with COVID-19.
- Vaccination is an important tool to help stop the COVID-19 pandemic.
- mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I know the mRNA vaccines are safe?
Over 80 million doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccine have been administered. Any serious issues would have come to light. Dr. Offit, vaccine education center at CHOP, states, “I can think of no example of a vaccine that 10 or 15 or 30 years later caused something that wasn’t picked up early.” - What are the risks of the vaccine?
In very rare cases, people can experience an allergic reaction, typically within 15 mins of the shot. This can happen with any type of vaccine, and it is easily treated with Epipen. - If I’ve already had COVID do I still need the vaccine?
Yes, you should still get the vaccine. Although you are most likely protected from getting severe disease if you’ve had COVID already, there is no downside to the vaccine and it will boost your immunity. - I’m young and not worried about getting COVID-19, so why would I get the vaccine?
There are some young, healthy adults that now have heart abnormalities because they were infected with the virus. Vaccine protects against this. - I heard that COVID-19 vaccines have “aborted fetus parts,” is this true?
The mRNA vaccines are NOT grown in cells from terminated pregnancies, rather the mRNA was made in a lab (not grown). - Will mRNA stay in my body and can it get into or alter my DNA?
No, mRNA cannot enter the nucleus where your DNA resides. Rather it stays in the cytoplasm of cells. mRNA in the vaccine breaks down in your body in a FEW DAYS after prompting cells to pump out copies of the spike protein. The spike protein is what the coronavirus uses to latch on and enable the virus to enter cells. The spike protein induced by mRNA vaccines prompts an immune response, teaching your body to fight future infection with the virus.