We have been suffering from Covid-19 for more than a year. Many people have died and many more have received medical treatment due to the virus. It is sweeping through the country. As it became a pandemic, developing effective vaccines was necessary more than ever. To develop a new vaccine, it normally takes more than 5 years including clinical trials. Considering that fact, it is amazing that vaccines, such as the ones by Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca, were made within a year of the Covid-19 breakout. Thanks to many researchers all around the world, we can now get vaccinated.

Vaccines are now more widely accessible around the world. Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect the people around you. Moreover, vaccines help to keep you from getting seriously ill even though you are infected. When you finish being vaccinated, you can enjoy indoor and outdoor activities without wearing a mask with other people who are also fully vaccinated. In the US, if you have been fully vaccinated, you do not need to self-quarantine after arriving from overseas. And if you have been around someone who has Covid-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms.

Furthermore, vaccines could produce a natural immunity and antibody response that remains in your body. Above all, vaccines are the only way to end this pandemic. As more people are vaccinated, families and communities will be able to return to a more normal routine.

Unfortunately, there are always a few side effects to every drug. Consequently, people have different opinions on the vaccines. Some people seem to think that early inoculation is the best thing they could do rather than die in pain. In contrast, others seem to voice a negative opinion about the safety of the drugs. It is natural to be suspicious since the situation these days looks like a lottery; someone might die while another person suffers no complications at all even though they receive the same shot.

Negative news has followed hot on the heels of people receiving the vaccine. In Korea, the elderly have priority over the young regarding vaccination. More specifically, people aged 65 to 74 have been able to make a reservation for the AstraZeneca vaccine (AZ) since May 10, ending on June 3. Meanwhile, AZ has become a hot potato, especially among Korean people. A Korean policewoman working in Gangwon-do suffered a cerebral hemorrhage after she received an AZ shot on April 9. Remarkably, she had no underlying conditions. The day after vaccination, she suffered from chills, and on the fourth day, she experienced decreased sensitivity in both legs. The government responded that there was no causal relationship between the shot and her stroke. In the UK, for another example, a 58-year-old former Taekwondo champion, David Myers, had to have his left leg amputated following a sudden and unknown infection following the symptoms of influenza. It happened within a month of receiving an AZ shot. He felt weird, saying, “I just find it strange that I became ill for weeks on the night of my vaccination, which has resulted in me losing my leg. I think it has got to be linked. It has put me off having the second one. The doctors say it’s hard to prove that it’s linked to the Covid-19 jab and that the infection could have been there for some time, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence.” Therefore, it is understandable that a lot of people, including Koreans, having a negative view of AZ, so they are reluctant to get vaccinated.

What about another vaccine? The Moderna vaccine seems to be relatively reliable and safe since it shows nearly 95 percent protection. In Korea, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has authorized the use of the Moderna vaccine, making it the fourth officially approved vaccine after the AZ, Pfizer, and Janssen vaccines. Korea expects to have 20 million doses available. The vaccine may cause short-lived fatigue, headaches, and pain; these side effects have been reported following the vaccination of some patients. Professor Openshaw, from Imperial College London, said, "These effects are what we would expect with a vaccine that is working and inducing a good immune response.”

Many people want to be vaccinated as safely and securely as possible against Covid-19. To prevent infectious disease, we also need to maintain social distancing, wear a mask, wash our hands often, use hand sanitizer, and avoid touching our faces, etc. Furthermore, we need to pay attention to news on TV and on the internet about the various vaccines so that we have abundant reliable information.