Despite the expansion of distribution and administration of vaccines against the COVID-19 virus, myths and misinformation persist about vaccine safety and effectiveness.
A new article in Health Affairs reveals that effective vaccination requires the following four elements: allocating the vaccine, creating demand and distribution of the vaccine, as well as verifying coverage.
The National League for Nursing is the leading organization for nurses who are educators. It stresses the importance of informing the public and health professionals about the vaccine.
Vaccines work by encouraging the body’s production of antibodies to defend against invading infections. These mild symptoms, like pain at injection sites or symptoms that resemble mild flu symptoms, can be dangerous, but the benefits of vaccines are far greater than the risks.
Numerous pharmaceutical companies now offer the COVID-19 vaccinations. Some vaccines require two doses for maximum effectiveness, while others require just one dose. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention consider safety a top priority. To ensure that people are safe, they developed vsafe. This smartphone-based tool uses text messages and surveys to monitor individuals after they’ve been vaccinated. This tool allows users to quickly report side effects and symptoms, and receive guidance about what to do if they occur.
The National League for Nursing emphasizes the importance vaccine uptake in Black, Latino and Native American communities. Many of these communities are medically underserved at the best of times. These communities can be helped by nurses and nurse educators who can increase trust and accept vaccines.
“Efforts to promote vaccine uptake in the Black community must directly confront and address the deep historical traumas that have created high levels of distrust in the COVID-19 vaccine, and the government and healthcare system overall,”Langer Research Associates conducted a survey about COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among Black and Latino communities.
Latino communities have been particularly affected by COVID-19, but survey data shows that these communities are more resistant to vaccination than Black communities.
Equity and access are essential to protecting the public. It is important that the public be educated about the importance and urgency of getting the vaccine as soon as possible. “open, honest, and comprehensive,”According to the National League for Nursing.
Visit NLN.org to learn more about nurse educators and nurses taking the lead in educating people about the importance and safety of COVID-19 vaccine.
