The majority of students at Morton East are planning to get the Covid-19 vaccine.

In a random survey of 50 Morton East students, 34 students reported that they plan to get the Covid-19 vaccine. According to “5 science-backed reasons why you shouldn’t be skeptical about the Covid-19 vaccine,” by Madelyn Fernstrom, false information about vaccines, in general, has been circulating for almost two decades, which makes people suspicious about the whole process, including during this pandemic. Interestingly, it might appear that the vaccine was developed in record time less than a year. Ongoing research and the science behind mRNA vaccines have been studied for more than two decades. The recent implementation of this process to the Covid 19-virus is based on many years of testing. Receiving an mRNA vaccine will not alter your DNA or genetics. Messenger ribonucleic acid is a compound that tells your body how to make proteins. The vaccine cannot interact or modify your DNA because it is not able to get to the part of the cell where the DNA is stored which is called the nucleus. The nucleus has a protective shell, which is impossible for mRNA to crack. Instead, the proteins made from this mRNA combine with your body’s natural immune system to create an antibody response to Covid-19, without you getting sick. If you experience temporary side effects like body aches or fever, it means that your immune system is recognizing and fighting the virus by generating an immune response. The vaccine helps protect you by creating an antibody response without having to experience sickness. The success rate in prevention is over 90 percent for both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

“I am planning on getting the Covid-19 vaccine because it will protect me, but at the moment, I want to see how it works on others. I want to make sure it’s safe,” senior Lorena Cabrales said.

Despite years of research, many people are still skeptical if mRNA vaccines are effective.

“I have not planned on getting the Covid vaccine yet, but once I get the opportunity. I will be making an appointment as soon as I can,” senior Gerardo Vazquez said.

Being vaccinated will slow and hopefully stop the spread of Covid-19.

“I already received my first shot of the vaccine! I felt like I needed to do it, despite my extreme dislike for needles. I was a bit surprised at first because a military branch did it. I was expecting doctors or nurses to be delivering these vaccines! Nevertheless, overall, it was a quick, efficient process. I feel better/more reassured now that I got the vaccine,” Spanish teacher Mark Zambrano said.

Furthermore, receiving the vaccine will help ensure your safety as well as others.

“I received the 1st dose of the vaccine on the 9th of February. I chose to get the vaccine because I believe in science. I am willing to do my part to slow (and hopefully stop) the spread of Covid-19. It was a fast and easy process for me that took about 15-20 minutes total. My second shot is in March. Ironically, a friend of mine got the first dose and texted me asking if I got it and what I thought about it. He said he “read stuff online” and is freaking out. Unfortunately, we live in an age where information is widely available. But so is misinformation or conspiracies,” math teacher Edward Vail said.

In other words, many people are easily influenced by false information.