COVID vaccines: Misconceptions and misinformation

Amidst the sudden spike in the number of COVID cases reported in India, various misinformation and false claims continue to spread among the masses related to the COVID-19 vaccine. Here are the most common misconceptions and misinformation about the vaccine.

While the vaccination drive continues in the country, there has been a sudden surge in the number of cases reported. India recorded 3.16 lakh new COVID cases on April 21, Wednesday, the highest single-day hike any country has ever witnessed to date. 

Despite being a forerunner in vaccine development, the sudden surge has also compelled many to doubt the vaccine’s effectiveness. While people are getting sceptical about the efficacy, misinformation, misconceptions and false claims about the vaccine continue to spread primarily through social media. 

Here are the top 10 common misinformation, misconceptions and false claims about the vaccine: 

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  You don’t need to wear a mask after vaccination

Often people are under the impression that once they have taken both doses of the vaccine, they don’t need to wear masks or take other precautions against coronavirus. Vaccines can’t prevent the entry of coronavirus into your body; they only prevent severe illness and death. So, it is a must to wear masks even after being fully vaccinated.

• Vaccines cause a positive test result for RT- PCR/Antigen testing.

A very common concern is that after taking the vaccine, the person will get positive RT-PCR/Antigen testing results. But the World Health Organization has clarified the vaccine would not cause a positive test result. Although due to prompt immune responses after vaccination, one may test positive only in an antibody (serology) test that measures COVID-19 immunity in an individual. Further, as you may still be infected with the active virus after getting vaccinated, you may then show a positive test result. But vaccines by themselves will not cause a positive result.

• Covid vaccines can cause COVID-19

Many fear that one of the side effects of the vaccine is getting infected with COVID, as a few people got infected even after taking the vaccine. As per the US CDC reports, a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make someone affected with COVID-19. Instead, it trains our immune systems how to recognise and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. But the vaccination doesn’t ensure absolute protection against COVID-19. It takes a few days to develop immunity after vaccination and the person may get infected before the immunity develops. 

• The vaccine can cause various gynaecological complications.

One of the major misconceptions about the vaccine is women develop various gynaecological issues, including menstrual problems and even infertility after taking the vaccine. As per the Centres for Disease and Prevention Control (CDC), there is no medical evidence that confirms gynaecological complications like infertility or any complications during pregnancy like miscarriages after vaccination.

• Vaccines cause impotency in men

A post widely shared on social media claims that men are likely to get erectile dysfunction leading to infertility among men. Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) mentioned that COVID-19 might cause erectile dysfunction, but there is no evidence of developing erectile dysfunction after taking the COVID-19 vaccine. 

• The vaccine is upgraded with a chip

Many believed in the news published on a satirical website that claimed that  Pfizer had announced an “upgrade” to its Covid-19 vaccine with a “Microsoft chip for reduced symptoms”. There has been no official announcement by Pfizer or Microsoft that mentions the upgrade, and Thomson Reuters later reported the claim to be fake. 

• The vaccine will alter human DNA

Dr Christiane Northrup, an obstetrician- gynaecologist, mentioned in a video that went viral that mRNA vaccine will affect the genetic information of humans as it alters the DNA. In an interview with WHO, Dr Katherine O’Brien mentioned that the vaccine can’t enter the cell’s nucleus where the DNA is present, so it can’t alter DNA. 

• No vaccine needed for those who recovered from COVID

Many people believe that those who have got COVID previously and have recovered from it have developed an immunity, so they don’t need to take the vaccine. As per WHO guidelines,  even someone already had COVID-19,  he/she should be vaccinated. The protection gained from the vaccine varies from person to person. Nobody is sure about to which extent natural immunity can shield you.

• Vaccines result in blood clots.

Many senior citizens fear getting vaccinated, as there have been a couple of cases of a blood clot after getting Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine. Older people and those with comorbidities doubt that taking vaccines will cause blood clots in their body. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC), blood clots after vaccination appear extremely rare.

• Vaccines introduce microchips into the human body.

Through vaccines, microchips are inserted into human bodies that track them. Department of Health, the Australian government, clarified that vaccines don’t have any microchips with monitoring technology.