UGA researcher thinks many are misinformed when it comes to COVID-19 vaccinations

Americans Receive Booster Shots Of COVID-19 Vaccination In Michigan SOUTHFIELD, MI - AUGUST 24: Oakland County Health Department emergency preparedness specialist Jeanette Henson fills syringes with doses of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine on August 24, 2021 at the Southfield Pavilion in Southfield, Michigan. Oakland County is the second county in Michigan to reach the state's goal of vaccinating 70% of its population. (Photo by Emily Elconin/Getty Images) (EMILY ELCONIN/Getty Images)

By Hunter Boyce and Sabrina Cupit

The COVID-19 delta variant is proverbially running rampant across the country. On Aug. 27, Georgia recorded its second-highest daily total of COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began. On Thursday, it was reported that the Peach State is now facing the highest number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

Despite health officials repeatedly claiming that vaccination is a useful weapon against the pandemic, many Georgians still feel hesitant about receiving Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson or Moderna’s vaccine shots. One UGA researcher believes that many people are simply misinformed when it comes to COVID-19 vaccination.

Georgia Gov. Kemp Visits Chatham County Health Department As First Covid Vaccinations Are Administered SAVANNAH, GA - DECEMBER 15: A nurse shows off a vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine outside of the Chatham County Health Department on December 15, 2020 in Savannah, Georgia. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp was on hand to witness initial administering of vaccines in the state. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images/Getty Images)

“I think there is some misunderstanding going around that if you had COVID-19, you don’t need to be vaccinated.” University of Georgia researcher John Drake said, speaking to 95.5 WSB’s Sabrina Cupit. “That’s not true.”

John Drake also noted that receiving a COVID-19 vaccination also provides significant protection against the threatening delta variant.

“One of the things that we found is that if you have the vaccination, even after having COVID, you have an immune response which is stronger, more reliable and more robust than if you just had the infection from the virus.” Drake said.

In the end, the UGA researcher explained that getting vaccinated will decrease the odds that you will need to be hospitalized for COVID-19.

“You’re a lot less likely to end up in the hospital if you had the vaccine than if you haven’t.” Drake finished.