USC Aiken students share sentiments, concerns with COVID-19 vaccination
Now that students are able to receive the COVID vaccine, varying opinions and being voiced in the campus community.
Some students expressed concern over the little research of the vaccine compared to others.
McKenzie Bray stated her discomfort with the vaccine, but “once there has been more research, I do plan to take it.”
Bray remarked on the differing preferences, and that she fully respects and understands “both people wanting the vaccine and people holding off.”
Nyckele Gardner similarly expressed discomfort, “I think it’s weird how there’s 2 or 3 different types of vaccines for one virus – that’s the main thing that throws me off. I’ll wait it out and see how everyone else does in my age group.”
The newness of the vaccine also appeared to be a common ground between students wary of it.
“I feel that the COVID vaccine is too new and there’s so many articles about healthy individuals with no pre-existing medical conditions dying and getting horribly sick after the second dose,” Kaitlyn Ticknor said.
Ticknor revealed her reasoning behind waiting to get the vaccine, “As a healthy individual I will not get the COVID vaccine yet. People with underlying conditions, go ahead [and] protect yourself! But COVID is not going to go away, there will be multiple strands each year just like the flu.”
According to the CDC, the COVID vaccine will not make you sick with COVID-19 – however, there is still a chance you can contract COVID-19 shortly after getting the vaccine as it will not have had enough time to be effective.
In a clinical trial on the efficacy and safety of the mRNA Covid-19 vaccine, which is a version in both Moderna and Pfizer, researchers found that “A two-dose regimen of BNT162b2 conferred 95% protection against Covid-19 in persons 16 years of age or older. Safety over a median of 2 months was similar to that of other viral vaccines.”
Protection of community and family was a binding factor in students who received the vaccine, or are planning to.
Shelby Dyer said, “[I] already got it because I want to protect my friends and family.”
“I get my second shot of the moderna one next week,” said Rakeem Jones. “I know it affects everyone differently but I had COVID at the start of this semester and I definitely wouldn’t want to go through that experience again, considering I was miserable when I had it.”
Maya Finley expressed excitement over getting her second dose.
“[I’m] excited for my second dose! .. Protecting my loved ones and my community. The vaccine wasn’t rushed; it was prioritized.”
Students shared their concerns and sentiments, also bringing up other issues that prevent them from considering the vaccine, such as pregnancy issues. This has been refuted by the CDC, stating that there is no current evidence that the vaccine poses an issue with pregnancy.
A yearning for normalcy was a motivating factor for Bobby Walters, stating “I just want to get back to a place of normalcy where I can see friends and family face-to-face again.”
