Flossing, fluoride, and the COVID-19 vaccination all have something in common. Disease prevention. In this article we take a look at the myths surrounding the covid-19 vaccine. We also see facts and science about the worries and concerns expressed by the public both on their oral and their general health. We will answer the questions of the vaccine’s efficacy, safety and effects and (less speculated worries) on your dental health
The Vaccines are Safe and Effective – 1.23billion around have been safely vaccinated!
When it comes to recommending medicine for our patients, we need to rely on reliable scientific data. While these vaccines were developed in less time than some other vaccines, it is important to stress that the research that went into their development was not rushed. By mid-August, 1.23 billion individuals had been completely vaccinated throughout the world, with no significant side effects reported.
The Vaccine Won’t Make You Sick, But It Does Have Some Side Effects
You CANNOT get COVID-19 from the vaccines as erroneously speculated on social media. However, they may have certain side effects that make you feel uneasy for a short time, and this is because COVID-19 vaccines teach your body how to recognize and fight the virus, causing you to experience some of the same sensations as if you were fighting the real thing, such as a fever. This is an evidence that the vaccine is working in your body, even if it is uncomfortable.
The Myth of Vaccine Hesitancy
Vaccine hesitation (VH) is a growing public health problem that is fueled by misinformation. Oral adverse effects from vaccinations such as polio and diphtheria were inconsistently documented with a low degree of confidence; they were never reported independently, e.g., they usually appeared in association with other dermatologic and systemic symptoms.
Non-orally administered vaccinations, including influenza vaccine, have exceedingly rare oral side effects. Extensive research has shown only one study in which three people (9%) who received the influenza vaccination experienced oral side effects related with flu-like symptoms, meaning that no statistically significant association could be established.
At this moment, there is no record of adverse effects to dental health when it comes to the administration of the vaccines and so we advice all dental patients to avoid jumping into irrelevant conclusions. Like flossing and fluoride prevents mouth diseases, so does the covid-19 vaccine, and we encourage patients to take advantage of the free mass vaccination currently being carried out by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and the Federal Ministry of Health.