Search Results for coronavirus

Vaccination enhances immunity in people who previously had COVID-19; little evidence for claim that the Amish community in Lancaster County, PA, have herd immunity

In the spring of 2020, there were many cases of COVID-19 among the Amish and Mennonites of Lancaster County, PA. Because an estimated 90 percent of households had at least one COVID-19 case, this has led to claims that these communities have achieved herd immunity in the area, and because of this, the Amish don’t need to be vaccinated. However, due to low COVID-19 testing among Lancaster County Amish, it is difficult to confirm the herd immunity claim. Additionally, people who previously had a COVID-19 infection benefit from receiving the vaccines by boosting their protective immunity in a safer and more reliable way.

Vaccines are highly effective at reducing the risk of death from COVID-19; The Exposé misleadingly claims the UK vaccination campaign has failed

The majority of adults in the U.K. are vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccinated people have a lower risk of dying from COVID-19, but the large number of people in this group means that they account for the majority of COVID-19 deaths. The vaccines are not completely protective against the disease, and without other measures to prevent transmission of COVID-19, cases and deaths will rise. Rare side effects can occur after receiving COVID-19 vaccines, but the benefits outweigh the risks.

No evidence suggests a causal link between ivermectin recommendation and the decline of COVID-19 cases in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh

After a second devastating COVID-19 wave, India experienced a sharp decline in the number of COVID-19 cases in many regions, some of them promoting ivermectin use. However, no evidence suggests that ivermectin recommendations are behind the drop in COVID-19 cases. Instead, this decline likely results from a high level of immunity among the population due to previous infections and COVID-19 vaccines, combined with control measures such as lockdowns. Public health agencies, including the Indian Council of Medical Research discourage ivermectin use to treat COVID-19, due to the lack of evidence supporting its efficacy for preventing or treating COVID-19.

The benefits of COVID-19 vaccines outweigh their risks; vaccinated children don’t die at a higher rate compared to unvaccinated children

Although children are less likely to become ill and die from COVID-19, they are still susceptible to the virus and some die from the infection. Among children, the mortality rate of COVID-19 is estimated to range from around one per 10,000 to one per 30,000 children infected. Individuals who are vaccinated against COVID-19 aren’t more likely to die compared to unvaccinated individuals. The benefits of the COVID-19 vaccines outweigh their risks.

Article by OffGuardian, ZeroHedge claiming to list 30 facts about COVID-19 contains multiple inaccurate and misleading statements

The COVID-19 mortality rate greatly depends on age and the presence of comorbidities. Multiple countries have observed excess mortality related to COVID-19, and healthcare systems also experienced significant strain during the pandemic. Measures such as lockdowns and mask-wearing are effective at reducing the spread of COVID-19. PCR and other tests are highly valuable tools for detecting infections and determining what public health measures should be implemented to minimize the impact of the pandemic.

Statements in Project Veritas video contradict public health authorities and experts’ recommendation for eligible children to be vaccinated against COVID-19

Introduction On 27 September 2021, the group Project Veritas published a video on several social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, containing claims that children don’t need to get a COVID-19 vaccine and that the long-term safety of COVID-19 vaccines is uncertain. The claims are based on an interview with two people identified in … Continued

Contrary to claims on social media, people who received a COVID-19 vaccine can donate blood and other blood products, including convalescent plasma

Plasma is the liquid portion of the blood that remains after removing all its cellular components. When a person recovers from an infectious disease, the antibodies that this person developed to fight the disease remain in the plasma for several months. This antibody-rich plasma is called convalescent plasma and has been used to treat some infectious diseases, including COVID-19, when other effective treatments aren’t available. Contrary to claims on social media, the American Red Cross considers people who had a SARS-CoV-2 infection and later received a COVID-19 vaccine to be eligible convalescent plasma donors. However, due to sufficient supplies, the American Red Cross no longer collects convalescent plasma.

FDA experts support COVID-19 vaccines, didn’t author unsupported allegations of vaccine-caused deaths

The COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at protecting people from disease, hospitalization, and death. While they come with side effects, their benefits outweigh their risks. The FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee is in charge of evaluating data about vaccine effectiveness and safety and issuing recommendations regarding their use. The committee also holds public hearing sessions where interested members of the public may present their views on the matter. The committee met on 17 September 2021 to discuss the use of a third dose of COVID-19 vaccines and approved its use for people above 65 and people particularly vulnerable to the disease.

No scientific evidence for claim by pathologist Ryan Cole that COVID-19 vaccines weaken the immune system

The COVID-19 mRNA vaccines carry instructions for producing the spike protein of the virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2. This gives the immune system an opportunity to learn to identify the virus, without having to run the risks associated with getting COVID-19, like respiratory difficulties and persistent health problems. Vaccination triggers various changes in the immune system, but there isn’t evidence indicating that vaccines disrupt or weaken the immune system.