The speculations that COVID-19 vaccine causes infertility has been dismissed by research studies assuring men they can still sire children.
According to the latest research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, vaccines do not cause infertility though males who have been infected by the virus may experience short-term reduced fertility.
The study also found no connection of COVID-19 vaccination and fecundability in couples trying to conceive stating that the probability of conception per menstrual cycle in either women or male partners.
While COVID-19 infection was not strongly associated with fertility, men who tested positive for COVID within 60 days of a given cycle had reduced fertility compared to men who never tested positive, or men who tested positive at least 60 days prior.
This data supports previous research that has linked COVID-19 infection in men with poor sperm quality and other reproductive dysfunction.
The vaccines aren’t safe because they were developed quickly.
“The COVID-19 vaccines themselves were developed quickly, but the clinical trials to examine safety and efficacy weren’t rushed at all,” says Cunningham. “Safety was not compromised in any way. What happened quickly was finding the vaccine to test. In the 1980s, it took scientists so long to do this, but thanks to scientific advances we’ve made over the years, we can find viruses so quickly.”
Also, he adds, COVID-19 is similar to other coronaviruses we’ve seen in humans, like MERS and SARS, so there was previous research that could be used to speed up the process.
Myths and misconceptions in regard to the vaccine aren’t true include:
The vaccines can lead to long-term effects.
“With vaccines, if there is going to be a complication or side effect (like an allergic reaction, for example) it will occur within minutes to hours of receiving the vaccine,” says Dr. Cunningham. “If we’re not seeing serious side effects now, we can pretty much know it will be safe down the road.”
Also, while the COVID-19 vaccines may be new, the mRNA technology used to create them has been used for decades in treatments for cancer, influenza, Zika and rabies.
This experience has informed us that unknown, delayed side effects show up within two months of receiving the vaccine.
These vaccines have been in use for many months, since the first vaccine trials were conducted over a year ago. There are no long-term side effects to worry about.
You can get COVID-19 from the vaccines.
“There’s no live virus in the vaccines, so they can’t infect you,” says Dr. Cunningham. “Basically, the vaccines make our bodies produce one single protein from the virus the protein that infects our cells. By making that protein, we prevent infection. You might have side effects like a headache or chills, but that’s because your body is creating an immune response, not because you have an infection.”
I’ve already had COVID-19, so I don’t need to get vaccinated.
Even if you have already had COVID-19, you should get vaccinated. New data shows that the vaccines provide better protection against the COVID-19 variants than natural immunity after infection.
“If you have had COVID-19, research suggests you have some natural protection from your own antibodies,” says Cunningham.
“However, we don’t know how effective that protection is or how long it will last. A benefit of getting vaccinated is that you will have a higher, more predictable level of protection against the virus.” Future research will tell us more about exactly how long we are protected after vaccination.
People with underlying conditions shouldn’t get vaccinated. This is False.
People who have underlying conditions like diabetes and heart disease, for example are at a high risk for getting complications from COVID-19, so it’s even more reason why they should get vaccinated, says Cunningham. If you have concerns, talk to the doctor who is helping you manage the condition. People with suppressed immune systems shouldn’t get vaccinated.
People with suppressed immune systems (like from cancer treatments or autoimmune diseases) should definitely get vaccinated.
“The vaccines will not hurt you since they don’t contain a live virus,” says Cunningham.
“Those with suppressed immune systems will still get protection from COVID-19, just not as much protection as those with healthy immune systems.” Again, talk with your doctor if you have specific concerns.
The COVID-19 vaccines will alter your DNA.
“The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use messenger RNA (mRNA) to protect us from COVID-19, and I think that is where this rumor comes from,” says Cunningham. “mRNA gives our cells the blueprints for the factories that will build the protein to protect us from COVID-19. People get scared that mRNA will cause the virus to go into our DNA and mutate us, but it does not even go into the center part of the cell where we have our DNA. It doesn’t affect DNA at all.
If I’m pregnant or breastfeeding, I shouldn’t get vaccinated.
It is safe to get vaccinated during any stage of pregnancy or while breastfeeding. “If you get vaccinated during your third trimester, you could potentially pass protective COVID-19 antibodies to the baby, but it is safe to get vaccinated during any stage of pregnancy,” says Cunningham. “And evidence has shown that breastfeeding people who have received