Myths about the corona vaccine

By Aker Sykehus - 02/03/2021 / Last updated 02/10/2021

Do you know a vaccine skeptic? Theories about the vaccine abound, but many lack a fact-based rationale. That is why we have had the help of Astri Lervik Larsen, a senior doctor in microbiology and head of infectious immunology, to answer some of the most common myths about the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna.

1. Several Norwegians have died after receiving the vaccine.

- That is right. The deaths that have been seen after vaccination has occurred in groups that also have a high mortality rate regardless of vaccination. It is still not clear whether there is a connection between vaccination and deaths.

See the Norwegian Institute of Public Health's explanation here: https://www.fhi.no/nyheter/2021/internasjonal-omtale-av-dodsfall-etter-vaksinering/

2. The vaccine contains a microchip. - The fact that the microchip is not listed on the table of contents will probably not convince those who have a penchant for believing in conspiracy theories. But at least no one has ever been able to find a microchip in this vaccine. Or in any other vaccines for that matter.

​3. The vaccine can make women sterile
- This claim is based on a misunderstanding. There is a theory that has been shared on social media that the viral protein that is formed during vaccination is the same as a protein that is found on the surface of the placenta during pregnancy. In theory, one could then risk that the body's immune system not only learned to attack the virus that causes covid-19 but would also attack the placenta during pregnancy and cause reduced fertility.

This is not true. We are talking about two different proteins that do not particularly resemble each other either. The immunologists have no faith that our immune system will mix these together. There is therefore no reason to believe that the vaccine would make women sterile

4. It is not possible to develop a safe vaccine in such a short time
- It is entirely possible, especially as modern vaccines are much faster to produce. The vaccines against covid-19 have gone through all the required approval steps, but the vaccine production itself and the administrative work surrounding the approval process have gone much faster than normal.

And then it is true that there has not been time to follow the test subjects long enough to record very rare side effects that occur long after vaccination. So far, however, there is nothing to suggest that this would be the case, or that the risk of being vaccinated would be greater than that of undergoing the infection, even if one does not belong to special risk groups.

5. The vaccine messes with our DNA.
- The vaccine consists of mRNA, which will not be taken up in our genetic material. mRNA is very unstable and will be broken down in the body shortly after vaccination. This is also the reason why the vaccine has a short shelf life after thawing.

6. There is no point in taking the vaccine if you are not in the risk group
- Unfortunately, it is the case that people outside the risk groups can also develop a serious illness, even if it is less common. In addition, it is in everyone's interest that as many people as possible have immunity and protection against this virus so that the infection pressure is reduced and we can start living normally again.

7. The long-term effects of the vaccine are impossible to predict.
- This is discussed under point 4, but in summary, the consequences of this pandemic being allowed to spread without us protecting the population with vaccines will probably have significantly greater negative health effects than vaccination can have.

8. The vaccine is extra dangerous for patients at risk, as it has not been specifically tested in sick people.
- The fact that it has not been tested does not mean that it is more dangerous. These are the same people who have the greatest risk of serious infection, and the group who benefit the most from vaccination. What we know from other vaccines is that they can have a slightly worse effect on the elderly and the sick, because their immune system is weakened.

9. The vaccine can give you corona infection.
- It is completely impossible with the vaccines that have so far been approved in Europe. These vaccines work in such a way that only a single virus protein is formed, not a full-fledged virus. This one protein cannot cause infection, nor can it be passed on.

10. You do not need to be vaccinated if you have had an infection.
- It is not known whether the vaccine provides additional protection if you have already had an infection quite recently. If the infection is a long time ago, the vaccine will in theory provide a reminder to the immune system that can prolong immunity.

11. Vaccinated people do not have to follow infection control rules.
- Yes, they have to. It has not yet been mapped well enough whether the vaccinated can nevertheless become infected and produce viruses that infect others, even if they themselves do not get sick. However, there is every reason to believe that the vaccine will limit the spread of infection. Much of the infection is spread by coughing, and when you don't cough, the virus is also spread to a lesser extent.

12. We cannot trust the health authorities
- The health authorities' goal is the best possible health for all the country's inhabitants. It is professionals who prepare recommendations and advice from the health authorities. The recommendations are usually consulted in professional circles before they are sent out, and in Norway, there is a great deal of agreement on what is right. The health authorities continuously update their advice as new knowledge becomes available. That is why we are now constantly getting new recommendations to deal with, as we are constantly learning more about this new virus.

The processes are open and transparent, and it would probably have been quickly discovered if the health authorities had a hidden agenda.

13. After the swine flu vaccine, more people got sleeping sickness. Can you get it from this vaccine too?

- It is thought that the reason why some people developed narcolepsy after being vaccinated against swine flu is that parts of this flu virus are very similar to a molecule found in the body, which is important in connection with the disease narcolepsy. Once our immune system learned to attack the swine flu virus, it would also be able to attack this molecule and trigger narcolepsy.

It was not only among the vaccinated that an increased risk of narcolepsy was seen. This also occurred in a smaller group of those who underwent the swine flu infection, which is to be expected with such a disease mechanism.

As this development of narcolepsy is due to the similarity between the virus itself and a molecule in the body, there is therefore no reason to believe that narcolepsy will be a side effect of vaccination against covid-19. The virus that causes covid-19 is very different from the virus that causes swine flu.

The new technology that has now been put into use for vaccine production also means that it is less likely that this type of side effect will occur. With mRNA vaccines, only a small component of the virus is presented to the immune system. This means that you have better control over the immune response than with traditional vaccines, which often contain all or larger parts of the virus. In addition, the new vaccines also do not contain adjuvants, which were previously added to enhance the immune response.

I can also mention that these new vaccines are better tested than the swine flu vaccine was when it was launched.