Vaccines
Is natural immunity better than vaccine-acquired immunity?
Vaccine acquired immunity is better. While a naturally acquired disease may provide a period of immunity, vaccine acquired immunity protects against more serious complications of a disease that could lead to hospitalization or death, such as with COVID-19.
The COVID-19 vaccine enters your cells and changes your DNA.
That is a MYTH.
The COVID-19 vaccines are designed to help your body’s immune system fight the coronavirus.
The messenger RNA from two of the first types of COVID-19 does enter cells, but not the nucleus where DNA resides. The mRNA causes the cell to make protein to stimulate the immune system, and then it quickly breaks down.
What is health literacy?
Health People 2030 outlines two types of health literacy: Personal and Organizational Health Literacy.
Personal health literacy refers to a person’s ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions.
Organizational health literacy is the degree to which organizations equitably enable people to find, understand, and use information to make well-informed health decisions.
T/F You must have a doctor’s note to receive an absence notification due to illness.
False – The Health and Illness Support Form allows students to receive an absence notification without going to the doctor. Not all illnesses require a doctor’s visit, but they still warrant an absence from classes due to symptoms and spread.
HOWEVER:
The Community Health Team does not excuse absences or make academic accommodations. Please contact your instructors about how to address any missed coursework.
What is a common disease that is spread by sharing drinks?
Sharing drinks can spread bacterial or viral pathogens that may cause a wide variety of diseases. Common examples include mono, the common cold, strep throat, or meningitis, among others. Strategies like avoiding open drinks and labeling drink containers can prevent the spread of illness.
Why is there a new flu vaccine every year?
Unlike most vaccines and pathogens, the flu vaccine's pathogen changes every year into multiple different strains. Each year, researchers choose viruses for the vaccine based on which one is most likely to circulate for that given season.
The messenger RNA technology used to make the COVID-19 vaccine is not brand new.
This is a FACT.
The mRNA technology behind the new coronavirus vaccine has been in development for almost two decades. Vaccine makers created the technology to help them quickly respond to new pandemic illnesses.
What is the difference between misinformation and disinformation?
Misinformation refers to incorrect or misleading information, while disinformation is false information that is deliberately created to deceive. The key difference between these two concepts is intent.
T/F You can walk into the student health center without an appointment.
True - Students can go to the Student Health Center Pharmacy for vaccinations without an appointment.
HOWEVER, all clinical visits require an appointment.
Which is more effective, washing hands or using hand sanitizer?
Washing your hands is more effective. The CDC recommends washing your hands with soap and water for 20-30 seconds. If soap and water is not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Hand sanitizer is less effective at removing certain germs, harmful chemicals such as pesticides or heavy metals, or when hands are visibly dirty.
Why do some vaccines require boosters?
It is somewhat unclear why the length of acquired immunity varies with different vaccines. Some research has shown that it may correlate to the speed at which the disease progresses in the body. The faster the speed, the more often your immune response needs a reminder of how to fight off the infection.
Researchers rushed the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, so its effectiveness and safety cannot be trusted.
This is a MYTH.
Studies found that the two initial vaccines are both about 95% effective – and reported no serious or life-threatening side effects.
Reasons the vaccine could be developed quickly: they were developed from a method that has been created and used for many years, vaccine developers conducted some steps on an overlapping schedule to gather data faster, vaccine projects had many resources, using the mRNA approach allowed for faster development, volunteers were more willing to participate
What is “cherry-picking” information?
Cherry-picking refers to carefully selecting data and sources that confirm someone’s position, while ignoring data that contradicts or disproves their argument.
T/F The Student Health Center Pharmacy only accepts prescriptions from our providers at UTSHC.
False – We accept prescriptions from our providers at UTSHC, off-campus providers, or your PCP from home
What is the only vaccine that prevents cancer?
The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is the first and only vaccine that protects individuals from several different types of cancer associated with HPV strains. HPV is the most common STI in the U.S. and can lead to cancer of the cervix, mouth, throat, as well as several genital cancers. While the vaccine was initially recommended for women, individuals of all genders are now encouraged to be vaccinated for HPV.
Why is an allergy to eggs a contraindication to getting some vaccines?
Some vaccines, including most flu vaccines, are cultured in chicken eggs. During the process of creating the vaccine, most egg protein is removed, but there is some concern that these vaccines could still generate an allergic reaction.
A recent study found that about 5% of children with an egg allergy developed minor reactions such as hives. Only people with a severe egg allergy are recommended against receiving egg-based vaccines.
If I’ve already had COVID-19, I still need a vaccine.
This is a FACT.
Evidence continues to show that getting a COVID-19 vaccine is the best protection against getting COVID, whether you have already had it or not.
A recent study in August 2021 indicated that if you had COVID before and are not vaccinated, your risk of getting reinfected is more than two times higher than for those who were infected and got vaccinated.
When reviewing health information, what is cross-checking?
Cross-checking is using a diverse range of sources when finding health information. One strategy is to utilize a different search engine when looking for health information, as some search engines may utilize an algorithm to provide you with similar results from each search.
What must you bring to a health visit at the student health center?
Your student ID, driver’s license and a copy of your health insurance card
If a healthcare provider says to complete your lab testing while fasting, what does this mean?
For testing where you need to fast, you cannot eat or drink anything except water for 8 to 12 hours. If you break your fast before completing fasting lab work, notify your provider as this can alter results and lead to misdiagnosis. For convenience, fasting lab testing can be completed in the morning so most of the fasting time will be while sleeping.
What is herd immunity?
Herd immunity refers to the protection offered to everyone in a community with high vaccination rates. With enough people immunized against a given disease, it’s difficult for the disease to spread in a community. This offers some protection to those who are unable to receive vaccines.
The COVID-19 vaccine does affect women’s fertility.
That is a MYTH.
The COVID-19 vaccine will not affect fertility.
Confusion aroused with a social media report, saying that the spike protein on the coronavirus was the same as a spike protein involved in the growth and attachment of the placenta during pregnancy. The false report said that getting the vaccine would cause a woman’s body to fight this different spike protein, impacting fertility. Vaccine testing has proven this to not be the case, and the spike proteins are clearly distinct and different.
What is the “Straw Man” technique used to deny scientific information?
The “Straw Man” is a logical fallacy technique where someone misrepresents or exaggerates an opponent’s position to make it easier to criticize and dismiss. An example of this is the claim that “global warming isn’t real, it was cold this week!”
What are the Campus clinic hours of operation?
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 8-5
Wednesday 9-5
At what age should people with cervixes begin pap smear testing?
For individuals with a cervix, pap smears should be started at age 21 to evaluate for cervical cancer. Pap smears are completed every three years, and after age 30 this can be completed every 5 years in combination with HPV (human papillomavirus) testing.