While most of us refer to reliable sources like journalists and media outlets for news, some people fall prey to fake news. As coronavirus proceeds to disturb everyone’s life, a lot of misinformation is being spread on all social media platforms making the situation even worse. Nowadays when you open a WhatsApp group, the only text you see is the forwarded message that says, “It’s very important for girls to check their period dates before they take the COVID-19 vaccination.”
When Neha, a young girl, saw the same post and message all over the internet, it confused hreer and she initially believed it. But as the curious cat in her woke up, she decided to do a little research of her own. When she referred to various articles by media outlets and tweets of verified doctors, she realized that the information that had been passed on was wrong.
She found out that, “COVID-19 is caused by a virus that causes serious acute respiratory syndrome. When the ovaries release the female hormones estrogen and progesterone, it results in the buildup of the uterine lining. When there is no fertilized egg that’s getting attached to this lining, it sheds and bleeds and thus causes periods.” There is no data that proves that the COVID-19 vaccine affects the levels or production of the hormones responsible for the occurrence of a menstrual cycle.
There have been cases of women experiencing more painful periods after receiving the vaccination, but this could be due to a variety of other factors, and there is no proof that it is due to the COVID-19 vaccine. A female health worker said that she took both her vaccine doses while she was on her period and she didn’t have any of the said effects on her period or her fertility. Twitter has been blowing up since with doctors and scientists from all over the country reassuring young girls and women to take the vaccine in their turn and that it does not have a link to their menstrual cycle.
As the vaccine is now available for the younger population, it is our duty to make the correct choice and stop believing rumors circling the internet. Each and every one of us should take the vaccine. We cannot afford an infodemic while we are in the middle of a pandemic.
