By Karen Kier
Pharmacist on behalf of the ONU HealthWise team
Many myths about COVID-19 infections, as well as COVID-19 vaccines can be found on social media. It is very hard to debunk myths on social media once they get started and unfortunately, there are many myths about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Yes, this is not really new since we have been talking about these myths for over a year. However, you still hear reasons for not getting the vaccine on a daily basis that are truly myths.

It would be nice if the completion of scientific studies debunking these myths got the same attention on social media. How often do we talk about the science? 

A common myth is the risk of sterility for both men and women who receive the COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States. 

We do know that the actual COVID-19 infection does actually lower sperm count in some males affected by the virus. A lower sperm count does not always translate in an inability to be fertile and reproduce.

In addition, evidence suggests that the active COVID-19 infection can be found in male testes tissue and decreases male sexual hormones. The ramifications of the lower testosterone in men with COVID-19 infection is not well understood at this time and studies are evaluating long-term complications.

Very little is on social media about the infection lowering sperm count and altering pregnancy rates but social media focuses on sterility with the vaccine. This week in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) a study was published that showed that the mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) did not change any aspect of male fertility.

The sperm count remained the same and did not decline as seen with the active infection. The sperm shape and size were normal as well and not altered by the vaccine. The conclusion of the study was that the COVID-19 vaccines did not have the ability to cause male sterility and preserved male fertility.

Getting the COVID-19 vaccine to protect from the active infection seems to have the ability to preserve male hormones and male fertility. This is the exact opposite of what social media is telling us. 

So what about women and issues with sterility? These social media myths started even before the Food and Drug Administration gave emergency use authorization to the COVID-19 vaccines.

We do know that the vaccines have been given safely in women and in pregnant women. Trials in pregnant women are currently finishing in the United States for the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. 

Pregnant women who get a COVID-19 infection have a higher risk of severe disease, death, lung problems, and premature births. Babies born to women infected with COVID-19 have a higher chance of being admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit. 

Dr. Laura Morris from the University of Missouri Health indicates that she has discussions with her patients about the social media myths of infertility. She tells her patients the following, “There is no plausible reason — no medical or scientific mechanism — for this vaccine to interact with a woman’s reproductive organs or have any interaction with an egg that’s been released or fertilized.”

The COVID-19 vaccines can protect a pregnant women and reduce the chances of a premature birth.

During the initial shutdown with COVID-19, the pandemic resulted in a decline in births. The experts now predict a baby birthing surge starting this summer. Researchers confirm that the COVID-19 vaccines have actually provided some hope during the pandemic and have resulted in an increase in births.

The fear of sterility with vaccines or COVID-19 infections have been a myth that has sufficiently been debunked. Now to get people to believe it!

In other COVID-19 vaccine news, the Novavax company has released vaccine study data showing a 90% ability to protect from COVID-19 infections and a 100% ability to protect from moderate to severe disease.

The Novavax vaccine has activity against some of the mutated strains that are now spreading in the country. The company plans to submit to the Food and Drug Administration and be the fourth vaccine available in the United States.

Novavax is currently studying a combined vaccine that contains the COVID-19 component, as well as the yearly flu shot. 

Researchers have successfully transplanted lungs in patients who have had severe lung damage from COVID-19. Several of these transplants have been performed within the United States.

Nationally, lung transplants in COVID-19 patients is being studied and tracked for evaluating long-term success. 

The Ohio Northern University Drug and Health Information Center (DHIC) is available to answer questions related to the COVID-19 as well as medication and health information. The website to submit a question to the DHIC is  https://www.onu.edu/student-life/health-and-wellness-resources/onu-healt....

Feel free to call the ONU HealthWise Pharmacy or talk to your health care professional for more information.  ONU HealthWise is offering walk-ins for COVID-19 vaccines.  Call the pharmacy to get more information on how you can get vaccinated.  Still not sure about the vaccines, please contact us to answer your questions.