COVID Vaccine

Vaccines. A word we hear so often these days. Covid has made us recognize this word as a part of everyday life.

What is a vaccine, though?

Vaccines are shots of inactive or weakened virus or bacteria which is allowed into our body for our immunity to act up. Our body, encountering a foreign infection for the first time produces different combinations of antibodies in order to figure out what really works and finally destroys the infecting virus or bacteria upon finding the right combination. This process is quite slow as it is blind reaction for the first time.

This doesn’t really make sense, does it? Why infect my body with a virus or bacteria without reason when I could just continue on?

Well, the reason is simple.

It’s because of how the vaccine works. When the body gets a vaccine shot and recovers from it, it now knows the perfect combination of antibodies to produce to take out that specific virus or bacteria. This knowledge is stored in the brain. Now, in the future when the person gets infected by the virus, the body reacts quickly, not really allowing the infecting party enough time to actually cause much damage, to produce the required antibodies and take down the virus or bacteria and remove it from the bodily system. This way, you develop immunity to the virus.

This sounds pretty great. So why are people against it at times?

Well, sometimes people’s immune systems aren’t ready to take a vaccine shot.

They have a weak immune system, which makes them vulnerable to the infecting party instead of immune to it, and is why one should always consult with a doctor before getting a vaccine.

Some are allergic to the ingredients in the vaccine, in which case they should take an alternate version without the allergen in it.

Some others believe that vaccines don’t protect you and would infect you instead. Which isn’t true. Yes, we are introducing the infecting party into your system but it is weakened and doctors do ensure that your body will be able to handle the vaccine before administering it.

Now, a small population of vaccinated people can still contact and get affected by the virus but they develop immunity to the disease and are a lot less affected than their unvaccinated counterparts.

Why should we take vaccines in Portland OR?

1. Vaccines prevent diseases before they can occur, which helps eradicate diseases in the long run. Especially when certain diseases cause serious bodily damage, like brain damage, hearing loss, convulsions, etc. “ prevention is better than cure”.
2. Vaccines prevent you from getting affected by the virus and also prevents you from infecting others.
3. Vaccines prevent future costs for treatment of vaccine preventable diseases. Covid, for example, is highly costly to treat, especially with not enough resources to go around. Taking the vaccine helps prevent or at least lessen the effect of infection.
4. Simple infections which weaken our body can lead to larger issues without vaccinations, like HPV and hepatitis B, both leading causes of cancer.

There are lots of benefits for vaccines when there’s only baseless accusations for why one shouldn’t. It is best to do your research, and make the best choice for your health and get that vaccine.

Happy vaccination!