Ever since mid-March, US citizens have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of a vaccine for COVID-19, and that moment came last Friday. On December 11th, the FDA approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, authorizing it for usage across the country. The Pfizer vaccine is only effective for individuals aged 16 years and older, which includes some sophomores, as well as the upperclassmen at North Atlanta. While many are ready to take the vaccine as soon as it becomes available to them, there are some side effects that students should be aware of.

Already, there have been some reported side effects due to the vaccine, which, according to the FDA, last several days. Most common among these were: fatigue, pain at the injection site, headaches, muscle and joint pain, fever, and chills. However, this means that the vaccine is working and is activating your immune system if you’re experiencing these side effects. Additionally, these side effects mainly occur during the second dose, and most patients have not reported them with the first dose at all. Students should be aware of these before taking the vaccine, considering if they trust its effectiveness.

On the bright side, experts believe that allergic reactions to the vaccine are a rarity. This means that, outside of the usual side effects resulting from one’s immune system adjusting to the vaccine, it is well tolerated. This however, excludes those who get allergic reactions from vaccines. People with other allergies like food sensitivities will be fine when taking it.

While many are eager to take the vaccine, others remain skeptical about its effectiveness. Whether that be the side effects of the Pfizer vaccine or just how safe one is after taking it, some have yet to decide if they want to take it or not. Due to its rapid development in order to have it ready for distribution to the public, many have concerns regarding the strength and safety of the vaccine. “I have a positive opinion on the vaccine,” Junior Curran Mitra said. “However, it was made in only a year, so I’d like to see how effective it is on a bigger part of the population before taking it myself.”

Since one is not required to take the vaccine (yet), students should do their due diligence and research whether or not they feel ready to take it. If deciding not to, students should keep following the safety guidelines outlined to protect themselves from the virus. The goal is to return to normalcy as soon as possible, but if students don’t feel comfortable taking the vaccine then that’s just fine. As long as we keep staying safe, we can get through this together, hoping for an unrestricted return to North Atlanta’s campus.