1. The variants to date are Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta; there are also now reports of the Lambda and Mu variant by the World Health Organization as variants of interest.
2. The Delta variant accounts for nearly all of the country’s COVID-19 cases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest data. The agency considers delta far more contagious than the original strain.

The Delta variant was first identified in India and spreads much faster than other variants. This variant may cause more severe infections happen in only a small proportion of people who are fully vaccinated, even with the Delta variant. Some breakthrough infections are expected but remain rare. However, persons who are fully vaccinated who are infected CAN spread the virus to others. All vaccines are particularly effective against severe illness, hospitalization, and death.

What You Need to Know from the CDC

• COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.
• You may have side effects after vaccination, but these are normal.
• It typically takes two weeks after you are fully vaccinated for the body to build protection (immunity) against the virus that causes COVID-19.
• If you are not vaccinated, find a vaccine. Keep taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated.
• If you are fully vaccinated, you can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic. Learn more about what you can do when you have been fully vaccinated.  
• The CDC does NOT recommend one vaccine over another.

COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you from getting COVID-19, it does not mean that you will NOT get COVID-19 but it does decrease your risks and most importantly your risk of serious illness or hospitalization.

You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Some people have no side effects.

Serious side effects that could cause a long-term health problem are extremely unlikely following any vaccination, including COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccine monitoring has historically shown that side effects generally happen within six weeks of receiving a vaccine dose.

Quick answer: NO!

Across the country, racial and ethnic minority populations experience higher rates of poor health and disease in a range of health conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, asthma, and heart disease, when compared to their White counterparts. The life expectancy among Black/African Americans is four years lower than that of White Americans.

The COVID-19 pandemic, and its huge impact on African Americans is another example of health disparities. Recent info from the CDC shows that Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian and Alaska Native populations in the U.S. are experiencing higher rates of hospitalization and death compared to White populations.

There are many social, geographic, political, economic, and environmental factors that create challenges to vaccination access and acceptance, and that often affect racial and ethnic minority groups. Some of these factors include:

• Education, income, and wealth gaps
• Job access and working conditions
• Racism and other forms of discrimination
• Gaps in healthcare access
• Transportation and neighborhood conditions
• Lack of trust because of past medical racism and experimentation

Because of these and other challenges, some Black or African American people and Hispanic or Latino people are less likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19 than people in other racial and ethnic minority groups and non-Hispanic White people.

However, OUR community must band together and get “US” vaccinated and protected.

A. Do COVID-19 vaccines contain microchips?

No. COVID-19 vaccines do not contain microchips. Vaccines are developed to fight against disease and are not administered to track your movement. Vaccines work by stimulating your immune system to produce antibodies, exactly like it would if you were exposed to the disease. After getting vaccinated, you develop immunity to that disease, without having to get the disease first.

B. Can receiving a COVID-19 vaccine cause you to be magnetic?

No. Receiving a COVID-19 vaccine will not make you magnetic, including at the site of vaccination which is usually your arm. COVID-19 vaccines do not contain ingredients that can produce an electromagnetic field at the site of your injection. All COVID-19 vaccines are free from metals.

C. Is it safe for me to get a COVID-19 vaccine if I would like to have a baby one day?

Yes. COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for everyone 12 years of age or older, including people who are trying to get pregnant now or might become pregnant in the future, as well as their partners.

Currently, no evidence shows that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems (problems trying to get pregnant) in women or men.

D. Will a COVID-19 vaccine alter my DNA?

No. COVID-19 vaccines do not change or interact with your DNA in any way. Both mRNA and viral vector COVID-19 vaccines deliver instructions (genetic material) to our cells to start building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. However, the material never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA is kept.

WebMD is a good source of medical/health information that is easily understood. According to WebMD It’s a law that says you must be vaccinated to do certain things like working, traveling, or even attending a concert.

But the government or other authorities can’t physically force you to get vaccinated. A vaccine mandate just means that if you don’t, businesses, schools, and others can legally stop you from entering the building or using their services if they choose to.

Vaccine mandates aren’t new. All states require certain vaccinations before children start school, with few exemptions or the ability to opt out. And some vaccinations are required for legal immigration or international travel.

While it is true that President Joe Biden recently required all employers with 100 or more employees to make sure their workers receive the vaccine or have a COVID-19 test weekly. No, you will not be arrested or criminally charged if you are not vaccinated—it remains your choice. HOWEVER, if your employer mandates vaccination, restaurants, shows, events and venues require vaccination and you decide not to—be prepared to not be employed and to not be allowed access. However, it remains YOUR CHOICE.