Dan and I received some great feedback and comments on the My MS side effect: Questioning a COVID vaccine that I recently posted here.
While some readers said they weren’t in favor of getting the vaccine (several were passionately opposed to it!), other readers felt they couldn’t get it soon enough. Regardless where they stood on this COVID vaccine question, it warmed my heart that people who commented respected the reasons why Dan and I are slightly uncertain about how quickly we’ll get in line to be vaccinated.
But there were two comments that came in when we shared this essay on Facebook that truly made us pause and feel more comfortable about getting the vaccine. They were from two of our friends – one a medical doctor here where we live in Michigan and the other a registered nurse on the frontlines at a hospital in California – who explained why they are on board with getting the vaccine.
We received their permission to repost their comments here to continue this dialogue and help us all sort through the pros and cons of whether to get a COVID vaccine when it is available.
Steve, M.D.
VERY well written, and Jennifer has a valid point of view. I want to preface the rest of this by saying that I respect the two of you so much, so not necessarily disagreeing but rather presenting an alternative viewpoint. COVID has killed close to 300,000 in the United States and 1.5 million worldwide so far, and produced chronic symptoms in up to 5 to 10% of those who have not perished. It shows no sign of abating. There have been numerous drugs since I started practicing that have been put on the market based on initial studies, and then once given en masse to much larger numbers of people, have shown to have some serious side effects that are rare enough that they were not appreciated in the smaller study groups. These medications were then taken off the market, and this could very well happen with some of the vaccines being developed. However it is much more likely that their potential to save lives will be greater than the potential to take life or adversely alter it. So am I going to take it? Yes. Can I guarantee it’s completely safe for everyone? No. Do I think it’s worth the risk? Based on my age and underlying health conditions, I think that for me the risk of the vaccine is lower than the risk if I contract COVID. This is a difficult decision, and if I were younger and completely free of health problems, I might think twice. Everyone has to decide what’s best based on their individual circumstances.
Shelbie, R.N.
100% Steve! Thank you for sharing this thoughtful perspective. As a frontline healthcare worker in an acute care setting, I share the same sentiments (as do many of my colleagues). I will be receiving the vaccination based upon the same risk assessment mentioned. Long term Covid effects are concerning and unfortunately I’ve witnessed patients experience multiple or prolonged hospitalizations and or death due to Covid sequelae. Agree it is an individual choice, but for the greater good, please all, consider vaccination and or the alternatives. My coworkers and I are exhausted and our facilities are full despite what some may think. Be well, Jennifer and Dan!
Again, encouraging words from two medical professionals (and friends) we have the utmost respect for. They definitely give us credible perspectives to contemplate as we decide how to proceed.
But for as much as their comments convinced us that a vaccination has great potential, Dan and I don’t know if we can trust the Multiple Sclerosis that we both have will play well with a COVID vaccine.
So much to think about…