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A: COVID-19 can cause serious illness or even death. There is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you. And if you get sick, you could spread the disease to friends, family, and others around you. All COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States have been shown to be highly effective at preventing COVID-19 disease. Even if you still get infected  after you get vaccinated, the vaccine may prevent serious illness.

A: No, the vaccine does not cause COVID-19. None of the approved COVID-19 vaccines contain the virus that causes COVID-19. It does take a few weeks after vaccination for your body to build up antibodies to protect you from the virus. That means it’s possible you could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after getting the vaccine and still get sick.

A: Yes, you should still be vaccinated because you can become infected more than once. Although you may have some short-term natural protection (known as immunity) after recovering from COVID-19, we don’t know how  long this protection will last. Vaccination is the best protection, and it is safe. People who get COVID-19 can have serious illnesses, and some have terrible  symptoms that continue for months. If you have had COVID-19, ask your  doctor, nurse, or clinic when you should be vaccinated.

A: Per CDC guidelines, “Antibody testing is currently not recommended to assess for immunity to SARS-CoV-2 following COVID-19 vaccination.” Studies are underway to understand what threshold of antibodies is required to stave off infection/reinfection. Those data, however, are not yet available and we are still uncertain to what degree and for how long people with detectable antibodies are protected. In the meantime, data have been accumulating that show vaccine-derived protection against infection is waning over time and in response to the Delta variant. These declines have been more substantial in older adults (ages 65+) and the risk/benefit balance for receiving a booster is the most favorable for adults ages 65+ (per ACIP). For these reasons, I suggest that you follow the simpler guidelines for booster shots, and I do not suggest using antibody test results to make decisions about whether to receive the booster. As always, please talk with your healthcare provider.

A: No. There is no evidence of this side effect. Add an answer to this item.

A: No, it is not. The government is not singling out one population of people for the vaccination roll-out. The COVID-19 vaccination is being distributed and encouraged all over the world. African-American people, such as Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett and Dr. James Hildreth have played integral roles in the vaccination creation, testing, review, and approval.

A: No, this is not true. In Rev. 13:15-18, it speaks of marks on their right hand and forehead. The vaccine is in your arm. No one could buy or sell without taking the mark of the beast in the Bible. People are allowed to buy and sell in stores, online, etc. and there is no requirement to present the card. Lastly, no one is going to kill you if you are not vaccinated. Therefore, it is NOT the mark of the beast.

A: Yes, COVID-19 is no respecter of persons. It does not discriminate. You can have minor symptoms now, but suffer from significant long COVID-19 syndrome, creating persistent symptoms after the acute phase. Because young, healthy people can be asymptomatic with the virus, they become a vehicle for the virus to be transmitted to their elderly loved ones who have chronic disease. If all of the young healthy population got vaccinated, we could significantly reduce the deaths from COVID-19 in the population in general.

A: Yes, you should get the vaccine even if you’re pregnant or want to get pregnant. The COVID-19 virus can cause miscarriages, pre-mature labor and birth, and a complicated course for a pre-mature baby, including death.

A: Yes. The immunity to the COVID-19 virus by vaccines is waning. This underscores the importance of getting the booster. In time, research will help us to determine if more shots are needed and when. Just as the flu shot is suggested annually, we may need another booster of the COVID-19 vaccination in the future. Getting the vaccine and booster will help to protect people who are immunocompromised (heart disease, lung disease, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, lupus, cancer, and transplant patients) by stopping the circulation of the virus. Measles, mumps, rubella, and polio did not dissipate until most people received vaccinations to prevent their circulation.

A: Plastic face shields are not as effective as masks because contaminated air and droplets can get around the sides of them. It is best to use a two-five layer mask, such as a KN95 mask, which is 97%-98% effective at keeping COVID-19 virus particles out.

A: Yes, you can. 

A: Yes. The CDC has recently approved a smaller dose of the Pfizer vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11. Studies have shown that the vaccine is not only safe but prevents serious disease in our children. This is the best way to keep children healthy and active and protect our most vulnerable populations.

 A: Faith is not the absence of fear, it is trusting God and using wisdom through His Word, doctors, and healthcare professionals. The vaccine is a God-given tool that has been developed for such a time as this. You don’t have to separate faith and science. God is everywhere. Unless all of us are safe, none of us are safe. This is the only way to truly “Love thy Neighbor.”