After months of dealing with COVID–19, the Food and Drug Administration approved the Pfizer vaccine for those ages 16 and up. Although the vaccine was offered to individuals before FDA’s approval, it is hoped that more people will begin to be vaccinated since they were hesitant before.
COVID-19 has brought an extreme amount of fear and uncertainty to those around the world, and after a year and a half, we have experienced death, business closings and newer deadlier variants of the virus.
After all of the negative effects of the virus, the United States began to offer several different vaccines that can help protect individuals from contracting the virus, leading the country back to a sense of normalcy.
In the last few months, news sources have begun sharing information on the newfound variants of the virus. The delta, gamma and lambda variants are continuing to stir fear in individuals around the world.
Many people who have already been vaccinated are open to getting a third dose of the vaccine when it becomes available, according to CNN. While there is still some uncertainty surrounding the long–term effects of the vaccine, most vaccinated individuals are more concerned with the possible lasting effects of contracting COVID-19 rather than those of the vaccines.
“I don’t see a problem with a third dose of the vaccine. If it becomes available I hope people will take it,” said Taylor McNair, a senior elementary education major.
In addition, Pfizer has submitted their application for a booster or third dose of the vaccine to the FDA, according to CNN. So far, there have been 306 individuals who have taken part in a trial of receiving the booster Pfizer vaccine.
After receiving the vaccine, some of the participants experienced mild to moderate side effects such as fatigue, chills, headache, and muscle and joint pain. However, these symptoms are normal side effects of your body building up immunity to the virus through the vaccine and have shown higher levels of antibodies.
“I think some people who have already been vaccinated will get the third dose, but there may be some people who don’t want to go through that process again,” said Jesse Martin, senior conservation biology major.
Moderna announced on Wednesday that they are in the process of getting their vaccine approved by the FDA, which would make it the second vaccine to be approved by the FDA. This vaccine is currently available for those ages 18 and up.
Winthrop University hosted a vaccine clinic on Aug. 27, with SCDHEC offering the Moderna vaccine on the Campus Green. The next vaccine clinic will be held on Thursday, Sept. 16, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., this one in McBryde Hall, with the Pfizer vaccine being offered.
Those who are vaccinated during either of these events, as well as any other students who have submitted proof of complete vaccination to Patient Portal, will be eligible for vaccination incentives and may be picked to win a prize from the University.
Although students are encouraged to get vaccinated, it might not be for everyone, and it is important to take these actions into consideration. However, whether vaccinated or not, it is necessary we continue to follow Winthrop’s COVID-19 regulations and wear our masks while we are around others so that we can get back to a sense of normalcy.
