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What are some of the risks of not being vaccinated for COVID-19?

Healthcare workers answer questions about the COVID-19 vaccines.

Yolanda Tinajero, MD explains the risk of severe illness, hospitalization or death for people who are unvaccinated for COVID-19.
While for some people who contract COVID-19 can have it be very mild symptoms, moderate symptoms, or be asymptomatic. There can be higher risks of more severe disease, and that can include having to be hospitalized even to the point of requiring ICU care that may require intubation, mechanical ventilation and very rarely death. With regards to the risks associated with receiving the vaccines, many people might report feeling symptoms at the side of the administration of the vaccine, which includes some pain might have some redness in the area and just some inflammation, but that typically goes away.
Other people might actually experience some fever, chills, and body aches. This doesn’t mean that you’ve gotten the infection from the vaccine, but that your body is now starting to respond to the vaccine and helping you create the defenses that are going to protect you against COVID-19.

This information is shared for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. The views expressed are those of the featured medical professional and reflect information available to that professional at time of filming. Always consult a health care provider for any personal health decisions. Click here for vaccine FAQs from the CDC.

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