The COVID 19 Vaccine — The Crescent

Reported by: Bryn Heikes

Illustrated by: Carla Cieza

For many, the emergence of a COVID vaccine signals a light at the end of this long, dark tunnel. However, while many see the vaccine as the key to returning to our pre-pandemic lives, the relative newness of the vaccine can be a cause for concern and apprehension. Senior nursing student Hannah Mason broke down how, exactly, an immunization can protect your body from COVID-19, specifically the Pfizer and Moderna varieties.

“Both [Pfizer and Moderna] are MRNA vaccines, so whereas other vaccines might give a piece of a virus to build an immune response, the MRNA vaccine gives a blueprint to your cells for how to make antibodies against the virus,” she said. “It’s most effective in two doses. We give a first dose that amounts a small antibody response, and then there are already antibodies that recognize what’s going on, so there’s a much larger response on the second dose.”

The potential side-effects can also cause some hesitation, but Mason said that while your body will likely react to the vaccine, it’s worth it in the long run. The first dose typically results in some soreness in the arm, and many people experience fatigue or fever after the second. Mason noted, “This isn’t uncommon for anytime your body mounts an immune response. And, when you look at the side effects of the vaccine compared to your body’s response to COVID, I would take the vaccine any day.”

Mason, has, in fact, received her vaccines. As a nursing student who frequently has clinicals in healthcare facilities, she qualified for group 1A of Oregon’s vaccine rollout plan. (You can find an overview of the plan here.) So, in January, she was able to get her first dose at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem, where Salem Health is conducting mass vaccinations. In terms of side effects, she said, “I kind of felt like I was punched in the arm!” As for the second dose, Mason was scheduled to receive it the day after our interview.

Mason and other nursing students aren’t the only people on the GFU campus with a COVID-19 vaccine, either. Professor Mark Eaton works part-time at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) and was able to secure a vaccine as an OHSU employee on January 17. Going in, Eaton admitted he was a little nervous. “You hear stories about people having anaphylactic reactions to the medication. It's rare, but it does happen.”

“Turns out it was just a sore arm for a couple of days, so my experience turned out to be super easy, barely an inconvenience,” he quipped, quoting Ryan George from “Screen Rant.” Eaton received his second dose on February 15th.

So far, Oregon has not yet announced when the majority of college students and professors will be eligible for the COVID vaccine. “As a nation, we have fallen behind on our proposed plan for vaccine distribution, so I don’t know when vaccines will be available [to college students and professors],” Mason said. “However, my advice would be to stay updated on the vaccine distribution. But be patient and know it might take a long time!”