Younger people who fall between the ages of 18 and 34 might wonder, “What’s the point of getting vaccinated?” After all, most cases of COVID-19 in younger people are not severe. And, since the vaccines were created so quickly and long-term studies do not exist, are there reasons to be concerned about their safety?

Katie Abbott, PharmD, a Medical Management and Clinical Consult Pharmacist at Univera Healthcare, shares her thoughts about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Q: Katie, you are in that age group. Why did you choose to get vaccinated? 

I trust the science behind the vaccines, and believe they will help bring us back to how life was before the pandemic.

Q: Some, or most cases of COVID-19 in younger people, are not severe. Why would a younger person get vaccinated if younger people aren’t really dying from COVID-19?

The younger population may not be seeing as many severe cases or deaths, but they are still at high risk of long COVID. Long COVID is when those who have recovered from COVID-19 experience lasting effects, including a range of symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, chest pain, shortness of breath, cough, joint or muscle pain, depression, anxiety, and so much more. Long COVID can develop weeks or months after infection. It can happen to anyone who has had COVID, even if they had mild or no symptoms. Getting the vaccine remains a safe way to protect yourself, along with your community, family members, and those who cannot be vaccinated.

Q: If a person is vaccinated, do they still need to wear a mask in public?

According to new CDC guidelines, individuals who are fully vaccinated (one Johnson & Johnson vaccine or two of either the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccines) can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.

Q: The Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine was paused for a while. Should people be concerned?

The safety monitoring the U.S. has in place for the vaccines is the most intense in U.S. history. The J&J vaccine pause was the strict safety monitoring system in action, and an example of how closely the safety of these vaccines is being watched. However, the FDA has issued a warning regarding the J&J vaccines due to rare incidences of blood clots, suggesting that women between the ages of 18 and 49 take the mRNA vaccines instead, as they are currently available, where there has not been any incidents of blood clots.

Q: Does the vaccine cause infertility? What if someone is pregnant or breastfeeding?

There is currently no evidence to suggest that the vaccines cause any problems with fertility, pregnancy, or breastfeeding, and there are ongoing studies testing the safety of COVID-19 vaccines among these populations. Additionally, The National Institutes of Health says two new studies show that both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines appear to be completely safe for pregnant women. Additionally, the vaccines may offer protection to infants born to vaccinated mothers. If you have specific questions about the vaccines with your health history, reach out to your doctor or local pharmacist to assist in making an educated, informed decision.