You have 0 items in your cart
Promising News! There are 2 vaccines that are touted to be 90% effective, and 94% effective, from Pfizer and Moderna, respectively. They are both non-live vaccines, using messenger RNA to instruct the body to manufacture the spike protein of the SARS-COV2 virus (the virus that causes COVID-19). They don’t expect there to be any significant issues. This is so exciting! This is just one step in the fight of this COVID-19 pandemic.
Although I am excited about these new developments, I would like to know more information about the safety of these vaccines. They talk about the effectiveness of the vaccines, which is obviously important, but it’s just as important to talk about safety. For example, the vaccine may prevent me from getting COVID, but it may have major side effects.
As a former clinical researcher, I know the importance of conducting safety and efficacy drug trials. Gathering this data takes years to collect, analyze, and surveil! This process can take anywhere between 10-20 years!
The top questions I have are:
- What are the side effects? We must remember that any vaccine can cause side effects. Are the side effects minor like a sore arm? Or are there major side effects like seizures, kidney damage, damage to my heart… is this vaccine worth the potential long-term damage that it may cause?
- How long will it be effective? Do I need to take this vaccine every year? Every 10 years? Lifetime coverage?
- Are there any vaccine-drug interactions? For example, interaction between a vaccine and a drug has been reported with the flu vaccine and coumadin (which is a blood thinner).
- Though most issues arise in live virus vaccines (these 2 new COVID vaccines are non-live), I need to know if these vaccines safe for pregnant women? Immunocompromised patients? Children?
- Because of the mRNA technology where the body makes the spike protein for COVID-19, I have a few questions. The idea is that the presence of this protein inside the cell would trigger inflammation and cause an immune response, attacking the protein and enabling the immune system to create memory cells for that protein. So, if the body comes into contact with this protein again, it would be able to quickly fight it. The problem is that the creation of these spike proteins could be a trigger for autoimmune conditions to start or flare. So my main question is, will it cause an autoimmune reaction?
These are some of the key questions that I have about the vaccines, and you should have these questions too. Again, I am so excited that we have these vaccines on the horizon! I just need more information.
Remember to Mask up, Wash up, and Physically Distance!
I would love to give you a free resource sheet to support your overall wellness. Click the button below to receive your gift.
I really wanted to talk about this topic today because your natural health and wellness is important. You can adopt healthy lifestyle practices that improve your health and enrich your life, which can in turn improve the lives of those close to you. You have the power to break the cycle of poor health, including chronic disease, so that you can leave a legacy of health to your loved ones.
I use lifestyle medicine as the first line of treatment, before medications, to treat lifestyle-related chronic diseases. Lifestyle-related chronic diseases include diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and some cancers, just to name a few. Lifestyle practices, such as eating a whole-food plant-based diet and regular physical activity, can help you lose weight, and maybe reverse some chronic diseases (if you suffer from them). In certain cases, these approaches may even outperform pharmaceutical therapy.
Tools for COVID-19 Prevention
COVID-19 Vaccines
COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and free. Get the vaccine: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/
N95 Masks
While COVID-19 cases continue to soar, better masks will help protect against transmission. The CDC says a NIOSH-approved N95 provides the most protection. Well-fitting surgical masks and KN95 masks offer the next best protection, followed by cloth masks with multiple layers. I recommend this Face Mask NIOSH N95 w/o Valve.
Hand Sanitizer
CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water whenever possible because handwashing reduces the amounts of all types of germs and chemicals on hands. But if soap and water are not available, using a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can help you avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. I recommend TriDerma Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer.
Face Shield
Choose a face shield that wraps around the sides of your face and extends below your chin or a hooded face shield. This is based on the limited available data that suggest these types of face shields are better at preventing spray of respiratory droplets. I recommend Shield U PPE Headgear and Face Shield.
Pulse Oximeter
An oximeter may be useful for monitoring oxygen levels if a person has a light case of COVID-19 and is treating it at home.
Please talk with your doctor about any complementary health approaches, including supplements, you use. Let me know what you think in the comment section below.
Stay healthy,
Dr. Nicolle
PS. I am always asked what tools and resources I recommend to help you reach YOUR health goals. Here is the ever-growing, always updated list for you.
Dr. Nicolle Martin
Dr. Nicolle is double board-certified in Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine. As one of the nation’s most acclaimed primary care and public health physicians, she is a nationally recognized author, speaker, researcher, consultant and media personality. She is the Founder and Chief Medical Advisor of DrNicolleMD.com, where she discusses actionable ideas and real-world strategies to help people take control of their health using integrative therapies and lifestyle change.
Dr. Nicolle also shares her knowledge via her popular social media accounts “Maximize Health” to help people pursue a healthier life. Her motto is simple: Minimize Medications, Maximize Health. With her credentials and warm “bedside manner,” it’s no wonder that the doctor is renowned as “America’s Favorite Family Physician.”
Some of the links in this article are "affiliate links", a link with a special tracking code. This means if you click on an affiliate link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission.
The price of the item is the same whether it is an affiliate link or not. Regardless, we only recommend products or services we believe will add value to our readers.
By using the affiliate links, you are helping support our Website, and we genuinely appreciate your support.
Last updated on January 25th, 2022 at 12:05 pm
Minimize Medications. Maximize Health.
Are you super busy but need to take control of your health? Are you tired of being tired? Subscribe to my “Minimize Medications, Maximize Health Blog” and I’ll give you 7 Tips to Get Healthy in No Time absolutely FREE.
