Questions about COVID and vaccines?
Our Best Shot Hawai’i is All About Answers
We research the local, national, and international data – find what’s fact, what’s exaggeration, what’s urban myth. And, if we can’t find enough data to prove or disprove something, we’ll say so.
Understanding vaccines
Top questions
Is it true the vaccines are experimental and have not been tested?
The COVID-19 vaccines are not experimental. As with all vaccines allowed in the US, they underwent strict and comprehensive clinical trials. The safety measures and approaches taken during COVID-19 vaccine trials were the same as those used in trials to approve other vaccines. No steps were skipped, but some steps…
Vaccine Effectiveness
Top questions
If the vaccines work, why should I get a booster?
It’s normal to need boosters for vaccines. (Think about all the boosters you got as a kid, for chicken pox, tetanus, whooping cough, and more.) The reason you need them is because the vaccine doesn’t stay in your body. After triggering your immune system to start naturally producing the antibodies…
Keiki & Family
Top questions
What are the cons of getting my keiki vaccinated?
Your keiki may experience mild side effects following their vaccination, such as pain at the injection site, tiredness, muscle or joint pain, or fever. These side effects usually resolve within a day or two. There have been some reports of myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscles, although these cases…
Pregnancy & Fertility
Top questions
Should I get a booster shot if I am pregnant or after giving birth?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends you get a bivalent booster dose if you are pregnant or if you have recently given birth and you completed your primary vaccine series at least two months ago. You can get a booster dose at any time during pregnancy. If you…
VACCINE WORRIES
Top questions
Is it true the vaccines are experimental and have not been tested?
The COVID-19 vaccines are not experimental. As with all vaccines allowed in the US, they underwent strict and comprehensive clinical trials. The safety measures and approaches taken during COVID-19 vaccine trials were the same as those used in trials to approve other vaccines. No steps were skipped, but some steps…
Staying Covid Safe
Top questions
I’m fully vaccinated, but came in close contact with someone who is COVID positive. Do I need to quarantine?
No. Regardless of vaccination status you are no longer required to quarantine when you come in contact with someone with COVID-19. But to be safe, it’s recommended to: Wear a mask around others for 10 days Get tested 5 days after you’re exposed to COVID Maintain physical distancing (even…
MYTHS & FACTS
Top questions
MYTH: The COVID-19 vaccines were not rigorously tested, which is why they have only Emergency Use Authorization and not full FDA approval.
FACTS: Pfizer’s vaccine received full FDA approval for ages 16 and up on August 19, 2021. Moderna’s vaccine received full FDA approval for ages 18 and up on January 31, 2022. The development was more rapid than many other vaccines. But, it used the same process of Phase 1 and…
