Written by Elly Herrick, News Editor, Photographer & Illustrator
Though the COVID-19 death toll continues its climb above a half a million people, vaccines are now rapidly ramping up and reaching the public across Wisconsin.
In the last two weeks, as of March 29, infection cases have gone up by 4 percent, hospitalization rates have dropped by 7 percent, and deaths have gone down by 21 percent.
According to a March 30, 2021, NPR report, more than 145 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccines had been administered — fully vaccinating over 52.4 million people (15.8% of the total U.S. population) since vaccine distribution began in the United States on Dec. 14.
Here in Kenosha, more than 15,000 teachers signed up for the Kenosha Unified School District clinic to get their shots. According to district officials, as of March 24, 672 staff self-reported they are fully vaccinated and 588 staff self-reported they received the first shot and are scheduled for the second. Another 160 plan to be vaccinated but haven’t made an appointment yet, while 130 staffers don’t intend to get vaccinated.
New daily COVID cases have substantially gone down in Wisconsin, from highs of 8,510 daily cases back
Photo by Elly Herrick
in November 2020 to 388 new cases reported March 22, 2021. On March 30, 2021, Kenosha County of Public Health announced that the former Shopko at 5300 52nd St. was taking walk-ins to get the shot if patients were 16 years of age or older.
“I am getting the vaccine next month,” Communication senior Abraham Villarreal said. “My mom signed me up since she works at a school and just wants me to be safe.”
According to Google News, 2.4 million doses have been given in Wisconsin and 914,000 people are fully vaccinated. The U. S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention also recommends that people wear a mask after they get the shot and even recommends double masking (wearing a disposable and a cloth mask) to help decrease the spread.
According to the CDC, the vaccine has three distributors; Johnson and Johnson’s/Janssen, Pfizer, Inc. with BioNTech, and the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is recommended for people aged 16 years and older. Moderna and Johnson and Johnson’s/Janssen vaccines are recommended for people aged 18 years and older. All of the vaccines do not contain egg, preservatives nor latex and are all given in the upper arm.
While no vaccine is technically approved by the FDA (Food & Drug Administration), the agency released an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 11, 2020; for Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine on Dec. 18, 2020; and for the Johnson and Johnson’s/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine on Feb. 27, 2021.
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has only one active ingredient, mRNA. mRNA is what triggers an immune response in the body to create antibodies. The ingredients include Lipids and salts which balance the body and are used to protect the mRNA. There’s also sugar in the vaccine to keep molecules in shape when frozen.
The Johnson and Johnson’s/Janssen vaccine is not an mRNA vaccine but uses a “shell of a virus” to carry genetic materials into cells to ultimately spike the production of proteins causing a person’s immune system to react and respond to a COVID-19 infection. The vaccine ingredients include recombinant, citric acid monohydrate, ethanol, sodium chloride, and much more.
“I think the different types of vaccinations worries me because some work better than others,” Medical Science junior Katelynn Ripper said. “But just getting vaccinated regardless of the effectiveness will help end the pandemic.”
The CDC reports that the vaccines are safe and effective, with common side effects including pain, redness, and swelling on the arm that receives the shot. In a March 16 statement, the CDC commented on concerns many people had over the safety of the vaccines: “Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines under the most intense safety monitoring in U.S. history. CDC recommends you get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you are eligible.”
In May, the vaccine will be available to everyone aged 16 or older.
“I do believe if people are of efficient health, that they should eventually get the Covid-19 Vaccine,” General Studies senior Jora Zuzinec said. “Vaccines have helped humanity overcome many intense diseases, so I hope the vaccine can assist with the pandemic we are currently in. I believe it is imperative that everyone do their own research, backed through credible sources only, before deciding whether to get a vaccine or to not.”