Ask Accordia – Is there still a need to get vaccinated?
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Ask Accordia
Emily Mims, CRNP
Is there still a need to get vaccinated?
Ask Accordia: Now that some COVID-19 related restrictions are lifted and the number of coronavirus cases is on the decline, is there a need for me to get vaccinated?
Getting vaccinated is the best path forward to ending the pandemic. COVID-19 is still a reality for all of us.
The lifting of mask mandates and other restrictions does not mean we should abandon the safety practices we have been using. We should continue to use caution when going out in public, especially in populated settings.
Just because others are vaccinated does not ensure that you won’t contract the virus. The best way to stay safe is to get the vaccine yourself. Vaccination clinics are taking place across the country, including at Accordia Health in Rockford.
Some people still have reservations about getting the vaccine, but it is essential to remember that the vaccine does not give you COVID. The vaccine teaches your body how to respond to the virus should you be exposed; it helps your body build up an immune response in your system so you will know how to fight it off.
There are side effects that can occur; for instance, it is very common for you to develop a fever, and you may experience a sore arm where the vaccine was administered.
As healthcare providers, we trust science, research and data. In reviewing the risks and expected benefits of the vaccine, the benefits far outweigh the risks.
The alternative – not receiving the vaccine – would continue to put your health and the health of those around you (family, co-workers, those in the community) at risk because of the possibility of contracting and spreading this highly contagious virus.
If you would like to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, we can help. Give us a call at 256-377-8008 to schedule your appointment for one of the COVID-19 clinics held on Thursdays from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m.
The office is located in Rockford at 9518 U.S. Highway 231. You can also visit our website Accordia-health.org to schedule an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Accordia Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center. Accordia accepts all patients, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay, and offers a wide variety of services through a sliding fee discount program. We also accept Medicare, Medicaid, ALL Kids, and most private insurance.