(NC) Youve probably heard from a family member or friend on social media some dubious facts about COVID-19 vaccines. But getting your information from people who arent health experts isnt a wise idea, especially when it comes to health topics.
A trusted source like a healthcare provider or public health authority is a good place to get information. Here, the experts at Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada share information everyon e needs to know about the vaccines:
- How vaccines work
Vaccines work with the body’s natural defences to develop protection against a disease. COVID-19 vaccines provide instructions to your bodys immune system to recognize and fight off the virus that causes COVID-19. - Available vaccines
Currently, Health Canada has authorized two types of vaccines to help prevent COVID-19:
mRNA and viral vector vaccines. mRNA vaccines provide instructions to your cells for how to make a coronavirus protein. This protein will trigger an immune response that will help to protect you against COVID-19.
Viral vector vaccines use a virus (not the virus that causes COVID-19) thats been made harmless to produce coronavirus proteins in your body without causing disease. This protein will trigger an immune response that will help protect you against COVID-19.
- Vaccine safety
Canada has one of the most rigorous scientific review systems in the world and only approves a vaccine if it meets stringent safety, efficacy and quality standards. The review process for COVID-19 vaccines is rigorous and there are systems in place to continue monitoring their safety and efficacy after they are approved.
The vaccines cannot give you COVID-19 because they dont contain the virus that causes it. The vaccines also cannot change your DNA.
- Benefits of COVID-19 vaccination
COVID-19 vaccines are important tools to respond to this pandemic. Scientific and medical evidence are showing that vaccinated people may have less severe illness if they do become ill from COVID-19.
Even while the vaccines roll out, we still need to follow public health measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and save lives.
- Vaccine rollout
Vaccines will be available free of charge over the course of 2021 to everyone who lives in Canada. Provinces and territories have developed detailed vaccination rollout plans for their residents.
More information on the COVID-19 vaccines can be found at canada.ca/covid-vaccine.
