Carroll students among those in PA who received COVID-19 vaccinations

Some Carroll students are among those who have received vaccinations against COVID-19. 

Thus far, 947,000 people in Pennsylvania have gotten the shots since they first became available in December. That is 7.4 percent of the population,.

“I got my first dose this Monday and the only effects I experienced were a sore and tired arm. I get the second dose at the end of the month,” said senior JT McNally, who is a volunteer firefighter and was vaccinated because he is a first responder.

Senior Andrew Ranaudo also received a vaccination.

“Post shot my arm was extremely sore, more so than any other shot I’ve received, and I was pretty lethargic the rest of the day. The shot doesn’t cost anything and being able to really not have any worries when going into public anymore is a pretty awesome feeling and makes for good times ahead,” said Ranaudo, who was eligible for a vaccination because he has a pre-existing medical condition.

COVID-19 vaccines teach immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control. It typically takes a few weeks after vaccination for the body to build protection against the virus, which means it is possible to catch the virus between the time of vaccination and the time the immune system is able to protect the body against the virus.

The vaccinations have undergone extreme safety monitoring to ensure that it is safe to receive them. There are currently three different vaccines to prevent COVID-19; Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. 

Officials say that for those who receive the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, it is necessary to receive two COVID vaccinations within a few weeks of one another. Two doses taken a few weeks apart are about 95 percent effective at preventing systemic infection, according to CNN.