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Loyola Community,

Ahwoo! As of this week, everyone 16 and older in Louisiana is eligible to get vaccinated. If you haven’t already, we strongly encourage you to make your appointment. You can use this great resource created by our student health advocates and check our Vaccine FAQs for tips to help you make your appointment. Don’t forget to fill out your Vaccine Survey to let us know your vaccination status (even if you don’t plan to get vaccinated). Based on your response, we will send you information for how to sign up for your vaccine, including options through Student Health Services and Tulane as supplies are available.

Having some doubts about the vaccine? In keeping with our Jesuit values, we encourage you to think critically about your decision to get vaccinated. Equipped with knowledge and the facts, you’ll be more prepared to take action when it’s your turn in line. So let’s break down some of the most common misconceptions you might have heard from friends or on social media.

The launch of the vaccines was so rushed. I can’t trust they are safe.

All COVID-19 vaccines available in the U.S. have met the FDA’s rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality needed to support emergency use authorization. Tens of thousands of people participated in clinical trials and no steps were skipped in the approval process. In fact, these vaccines have undergone the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history thanks to unprecedented collaboration and investment globally.

I won't need to wear a mask or social distance after I get vaccinated.

We need to continue to practice safety measures like masking and social distancing when in public settings or around others who are unvaccinated. Experts are still conducting research to see if we can transmit the virus to others after we are fully vaccinated (even if we don’t feel sick), which is why it’s important to continue our established safety guidelines to protect everyone in our community as we work to vaccinate more of the population. The good news is that fully vaccinated people can safely socialize together without masking and distancing, according to new guidance from the CDC.

I’ve already had COVID-19, so I don’t need a vaccine.

You should plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine, even if you have already been sick with COVID and recovered from the illness. Experts do not yet know how long you have natural immunity to COVID-19 after recovering, and although it’s rare, you can potentially get sick again. Getting the vaccine is the safest and most effective way to build protection. You should talk to your doctor about your vaccination plan, including how long you should wait after recovering from COVID-19 before scheduling your vaccine.

The COVID-19 vaccine could affect my ability to have children later.

There is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility or problems with pregnancy, including development of the placenta. Similarly, there is no evidence that vaccines can be transmitted through the breastmilk of lactating moms. Medical experts recommend that women who are pregnant or may want to become pregnant in the future get the COVID-19 vaccine. Like all vaccines, scientists are studying COVID-19 vaccines carefully for side effects now and will continue to study them for many years. View full recommendations from the CDC.

The vaccine could make me sick with COVID-19.

None of the authorized COVID-19 vaccines in the United States contain a live virus that could make you sick with COVID. The vaccines prompt your body to recognize the virus and develop an immune response. This process may cause mild symptoms, such as a fever, chills, or pain at the injection site. These are normal reactions and indicate that your body is working to build immunity. Keep in mind that it takes about two weeks after your last vaccine dose to build immunity, so it is still possible to get sick with COVID just before or after vaccination. Be extra cautious in the interim as your body builds protection.

I’ve heard vaccines can alter my DNA.

COVID-19 vaccines do not change or interact with our DNA in any way. The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are known as mRNA, or messenger RNA vaccines, which means they deliver important instructions to our cells to produce a SARS-CoV-2 antigen called the spike protein. This antigen triggers production of antibodies and a resulting immune response. MRNA vaccines do not interact with a person’s DNA or cause genetic changes because the mRNA does not enter the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA is kept. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a viral vector vaccine, which means that it uses a different virus as a vector to trigger an immune response. Similarly, the genetic material delivered by the viral vector does not integrate into a person’s DNA.

We know that you may have other concerns or questions about getting your COVID-19 vaccine not covered here. We encourage you to schedule an appointment with our Public Health Coordinators to discuss this topic in more detail.

Getting vaccinated is our best chance at returning to the activities and interactions we miss so dearly. (Hugs! Dance parties! Smiling at strangers!) Even though getting a shot isn’t so fun, we know this is a momentous occasion for so many who have sacrificed so much. Send your vaccine selfie to marketing@loyno.edu and share what getting vaccinated means to you!

Please complete your Vaccine Survey to let us know your vaccination status. Once you receive your vaccine, please update your survey response using the personalized survey link sent to your email. Check our Vaccine FAQs for more details.

Make sure your Loyola-sanctioned event is compliant with our health and safety rules. Please follow these guidelines created by our Public Health team. This includes third-party events and internal gatherings for departments and organizations.

Missing your office on campus? As many of us get vaccinated and the city’s capacity restrictions loosen, you may discuss options to return to campus with your supervisor. Remember to follow our workplace expectations including masking and social distancing.

COVID Connections is a round-up of important information to help keep everyone in our campus community informed and safe. It arrives in your inbox every Tuesday, with special editions on other days if needed. Explore our archive on the FAQ website to see previous editions.

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6363 St. Charles Ave.
New Orleans, LA | 70115 US

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