Every
day more people are becoming vaccinated. But
there are many others who have not yet received vaccinations, despite the
demonstrated safety of the vaccines and their high degree of
effectiveness in preventing severe illness and death.
As part of the NASW 2021 Virtual Forum: Reimagining Social Work In Health, a free webinar COVID-19 Vaccination through a Social Work Lens: Myths and Facts was held Nov. 9, 2021.
The webinar was available on demand, free of charge through August 31, 2024, and included free CEs at the Social Work Online CE Institute. Learn more about the vaccines, including myths and facts, and special considerations for social workers. Summary excerpts from the webinar and webinar presentations are included below.
COVID-19 Facts
- Anyone can contract COVID-19. We don’t know how COVID-19 will affect each person.
- Certain populations are at greater risk of severe illness and/or death. Among others, these include:
- Adults 65+
- People with underlying medical conditions
- People with mental health disorders and/or substance use disorders
- People who are unhoused
- People who are African American, Hispanic or Indigenous
- LGBTQ people
- Socially and/or economically vulnerable people
- Some people develop long-term COVID-19 symptoms (e.g., Long COVID), which can result in prolonged disruptions in health and even long-term disability.
- COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be highly effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization and/or death.
- Vaccinated people are eight (8) times less likely to be infected and 25 times less likely to experience hospitalization or death.
- COVID-19 vaccines are safe. Serious side effects that could cause long-term health problems are extremely unlikely following any vaccination. COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated in tens of thousands of participants in clinical trials. The vaccines met the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality needed to support approval or authorization of a vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and vaccine safety experts quickly assess unexpected adverse events to guide vaccine recommendations.