Every Day is April Fools' Day

How can we prank someone on April Fools’ Day at this point in time? The whole world has gone mad and everything is absurd. I was inspired to write this when I saw a clip in which Tucker Carlson addresses what he calls immoral and dangerous doctors who are still refusing to admit they were, at best, ignorant of the harms of the covid so-called vaccine. He stated he would never go to one of these doctors.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1773535117119545521

Tucker’s anger toward doctors reminded me of an exchange I had with my former physician’s practice. In 2022, I received a notification that it was time for me to come in for a check-up. (In actuality, it was WAY past time, as I had not been in years.) I knew that the hospital system the practice is affiliated with was pushing the covid shots, so I responded by telling them I would not be seen by a doctor who was doing so. I asked if they had faced the reality of the so-called vaccines’ harms and in response, was sent a link to the hospital system’s vaccine info. When I read the lies, I was appalled. After hearing what Tucker had to say today, I then went to Duke Healthcare’s website this morning, April 1, 2024, three years after people began being killed and disabled by these shots, and when I saw it, I wondered, considering the date, is this an April Fool’s joke? It is unbelievable that these lies remain online, and I wanted to expose the liars. Check it out for yourself. This is directly copied from the website, but I have added bold to some portions to draw attention to them. It is unconscionable that healthcare professionals would continue to push this harmful narrative.

Are the COVID-19 vaccines safe?

There are many strict protections in place and steps taken during vaccine development to ensure that any vaccine authorized for use is proven to be safe and effective. Vaccine developers are required to go through a rigorous, multi-stage process including large (phase III) trials that involve tens of thousands of participants.

More than 70,000 people from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities participated in the COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials. Clinical trials for the three vaccines included White, Hispanic/Latino, Black, Asian, and other races/ethnicities.

After the clinical trials show that the vaccines are safe and effective, a series of independent reviews and evidence is required to demonstrate efficacy and safety. The FDA is responsible for making sure that FDA-authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Duke experts in vaccine science reviewed all available safety and efficacy data for any authorized vaccine to ensure the evidence supports its broad use.

What ingredients are in the COVID-19 vaccines?

The Pfizer vaccine and the Moderna vaccine use mRNA to instruct the cells in your body to make a harmless piece of the “spike protein” found on the surface of COVID-19. Your immune system is tricked into thinking this is a virus and makes antibodies.  A live virus is not included in the vaccine. Your body destroys the mRNA and gets rid of it. It doesn’t stay in your body or alter any DNA. The other ingredients in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are salt, sugar, and fat.

None of the vaccines contain eggs, preservatives, fetal tissue, stem cells, mercury, or latex.

Are the vaccines safe for children?

Duke Health offers the Pfizer vaccine, which received FDA emergency use authorization and is recommended by the CDC for children ages 6 months to 17 years of age. Pfizer vaccine boosters are available to children 5 years old and older. The vaccine and booster have undergone extensive study and review. We are confident that it is safe and that it will decrease your child’s risk of getting sick from COVID-19, which can cause them to miss out on school, sports, and other activities and spread the virus to family and friends.

Are the vaccines safe for pregnant people?

The approved COVID-19 vaccines have not been studied in pregnancy. However, we know that pregnant people are at an increased risk for complications from COVID-19. That's why we encourage all pregnant people to ask questions and discuss their concerns with their care providers.

So far, there have been no significant adverse events seen in pregnant women receiving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.  Learn more. (Author’s note: Here they mention pregnant women. Does that mean there were adverse events seen in pregnant men???)

Should I get the vaccine if I am breastfeeding?

The approved COVID-19 vaccines were not studied in people who are breastfeeding. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control, there is no data indicating that the vaccines would be a risk to infants who are breastfeeding. If you are breastfeeding, discuss your concerns with your care providers. Duke Health will offer breastfeeding people the option to get vaccinated in accordance with North Carolina guidelines for vaccine distribution. Learn more.

Can the COVID-19 vaccine make me infertile/sterile?

No. There is no evidence to suggest the vaccines cause infertility or affects your ability to become pregnant. A rumor on the Internet claims a protein created by the body after vaccination is similar to a protein that is needed for placental formation. This is not true. The proteins are not similar nor do they impact fertility or affect a pregnancy. The vaccine manufacturers are monitoring people in the clinical trials who became pregnant. Learn more.

Do the vaccines cause side effects?

There is a potential for injection site reactions (redness, swelling, and pain) as well as fever, fatigue, headache, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, and/or joint pain. These adverse reactions are commonly seen with other vaccines. There may be other reactions that are not currently known. If you are receiving a two-dose vaccine, it is important that you receive the second dose to ensure the vaccine is effective, even if you experience side effects after the first dose.

If you have a severe allergic reaction following the first dose of a two-dose vaccine course, such as anaphylaxis, you should not receive the second dose. The incidence of this occurring is low, about one in six per million doses.

If I had COVID-19 and recovered, should I get the vaccine?

Yes. Early findings suggest natural immunity from COVID-19 may not last long. More studies are needed.  We generally recommend getting vaccinated three months after recovering from COVID-19 infection. Your natural immunity should protect you during this and it may allow non-immune people to get the vaccine sooner. There is no harm in getting vaccinated before 90 days as long as you are beyond your isolation period.

Do I need to wait between getting the COVID-19 vaccine and any other vaccine?

No, you can get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines at the same visit. Your body should develop protection the same as it would whether you get the COVID-19 vaccine alone or with other vaccines.

Previously, the CDC recommended waiting at least 14 days between getting the COVID-19 vaccine and any other vaccine out of an abundance of caution in monitoring the effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. It was not due to any safety concerns. We now know that it is safe for COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines to be given at the same visit.

What are the differences between the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines?

Clinical trial data show the FDA-approved Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are equally effective after vaccination -- 95% for Pfizer and 94.1% for Moderna -- and are safe for most adults and across different ethnic and racial groups. The vaccines were studied extensively and tested successfully in 30,000 people before receiving FDA approval. Since approval, they have been safely administered to tens of millions of people.

Pfizer and Moderna Vaccines Use mRNA Technology
Neither vaccine uses a live virus to help the body develop immunity, as some traditional vaccines do. Instead, both vaccines are messenger RNA vaccines (mRNA). This new vaccine technology teaches the body how to make a harmless piece of protein, called a spike protein, that triggers an immune response that protects you from COVID-19. Although this is a newer type of vaccine, researchers have been studying and working with mRNA vaccines for decades. Both COVID-19 vaccines were thoroughly tested before approval. The mRNA vaccines do not manipulate your DNA as they never enter the cell. More information is available on the CDC website.

(Author’s Note: I want to reiterate that no, this is not an April Fool’s joke. It is deadly serious.)