I joined the COVE study and was assigned to Moderna Vaccine in July 2020. I convinced two buddies to join as well. Why? Without people like us, the vaccine would never be approved. And I ended up being the control, the placebo group.

After EUA, I could ask to be unblinded and did. And if in the placebo group, I could opt for the vaccine. And by this time, I certainly knew what I was getting. Second shot last Friday and a miserable Saturday.

Would i do it again? Yes.

Why was I comfortable? I was in Phase III. They had already done basic safety and dosing regimens. They already knew what to expect in reactions and how much antibody would be developed.

James....please share why you’re comfortable regarding long-term effects.

Can't speak for James but I got the vaccine because long term effects don't really register on my worry chart and I'm only 49. Life if full of potentially harmful long term effects. You could be in a car accident today and never be able to walk again... but you take that chance virtually every single day. What are the long term effects of getting Covid? I took my chances with the vaccine rather than the virus.

Actually, Nick summed it up well. But I'll add a few more things. I have elderly parents and I have to assist often with them. If I or my wife gets COVID, we cannot help them. That is a short term issue, but it overwhelms the long term concerns. And of course there are probably long term effects of getting COVID-19, that we do not yet understand.

I get vaccines every year. I'm doing a Shingles Vax this year. I need to update some other shots. Every time I travel internationally I review my immunization records against the country recommendations (India, Former Soviet Union, South America, etc.). And I update my shots. I also understand statistics and the implications.

mRNA is different, but it has been around a while. And as far as "cancer treatment", one of my friend's life was just saved with a personal immunization type treatment. She had skin cancer 3 years ago and was in remission. About a year ago, she was found to be out of remission as it moved to lymph nodes and now stage 4, usually pack you're **** up and die. She is again in remission!!!

By the actuarial tables, I have about 25 more years. With Family history, more like 35.

Mike, if you don't want the vaccine, don't get it. Take your chances with COVID-19. Or wait for one of the more conventional vaccines (J&J, Novavax or Astro Zeneca). It is up to you.

The former Mrs. Beard would not get the Flu Vaccines due to fear of Gillian Barre syndrome. Even though her chances of developing that was higher than if she didn't get the vaccine (chance of getting flu and then chance of getting G-B from the flu). That was an irrational fear.

Understood...and I appreciate the honest answers. It seems to be the aspect no one wants to discuss. Mrs. Choc and I are both under 65 and do not work in a healthcare delivery environment, so we will probably not have access to our shots for another several weeks. We will get vaccinated, no question there.

It seems logical to assess which types of vaccines will be available and what, if any risks are associated with each. My trust level with the media and Dr. Fauci are very low...so a bit of individual research seems prudent. That some here take offense is hard to understand.