Risks of the Covid Vaccine in Spanish

This is the second of a series of discussions in Spanish about the new COVID-19 vaccines. The primary purpose of these lessons is to practice useful Spanish vocabulary and phrases when discussing vaccination against Covid-19. Much of the discussion refers to the mRNA vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna and the information regarding all the Covid-19 vaccines may change as we learn more. Therefore, when speaking with patients, you should always use information provided by current trusted medical sources.

In this lesson, Elizabeth Cortéz, my Spanish teacher at the San Pedro Spanish School in Guatemala, discusses the risk of severe adverse effects from vaccinations and the fact that we have seen rare severe allergic reactions to the Covid vaccine.

In upcoming lessons, we will discuss common side effects, how the vaccine will not alter your DNA, protection against new strains, administration and more. I know that it is important that we are able to communicate clearly with the Spanish-speaking population as we roll out these vaccines. Therefore, I will try to publish these as quickly as possible. If there is something specific about the vaccines that you want us to cover in Spanish, leave a comment at the bottom of this post.

More Lessons on Spanish for COVID-19

LEVEL - UPPER INTERMEDIATE

¿Es realmente segura?

2:12

¿Es la vacuna realmente segura?
Para ser sincera, no hay ninguna vacuna que sea 100% segura. Siempre habrá algunos casos raros de efectos secundarios graves, pero los efectos adversos graves de una vacuna son extremadamente raros.

Efectos adversos graves

2:35

Para ser sincera, no hay ninguna vacuna que sea 100% segura.

para ser sincero/a
to be honest

(el) cien por ciento
100 percent

seguro/a
safe

Para ser sincera, no hay ninguna vacuna que sea cien por ciento segura.
To be honest, there is no vaccine that is 100% safe.

We use the subjunctive to describe something that does not exist. No hay ninguna vacuna que > subjuntivo (sea). Spanish grammar members, learn more: Subj08 Nonexistent Nouns

Siempre habrá algunos casos raros

3:53

Siempre habrá algunos casos raros de efectos secundarios graves, pero los efectos adversos graves de una vacuna son extremadamente raros.

(los) casos raros
rare cases

(los) efectos secundarios
side effects

grave
severe

Siempre habrá algunos casos raros de efectos secundarios graves.
There will always be some rare cases of serious side effects.

We always use the third person singular form of the verb HABER to say, “there is” or “there are.” Therefore, although we are referring to algunos casos here, we use the singular form of the verb: “habrá.”

Son extremadamente raros

5:31

Pero los efectos adversos graves de una vacuna son extremadamente raros.

(los) efectos adversos
adverse effects

extremadamente
extremely

Pero los efectos adversos graves de una vacuna son extremadamente raros.
But serious adverse effects from a vaccine are extremely rare.

uno en un millón
one in a million

OJO: This refers to the approximate rate of severe adverse effects from most vaccines. Since recording this, we have more data on the Covid vaccines. We have seen severe allergic reactions to the Pfizer vaccine at a rate of 11.1 per one million.)

Reacciones alérgicas severas

6:35

Hemos visto algunos casos raros de reacciones alérgicas severas con esta vacuna, pero son bien raras y tratables. Además, el riesgo de vacunarse es minúsculo en comparación al riesgo de contagiarse del Covid y sufrir complicaciones. Y finalmente, cuando uno se vacuna, también está protegiendo a los que le rodean.

Hemos visto algunos casos raros de reacciones alérgicas severas con esta vacuna

(la) reacción alérgica
allergic reaction

severo/a, grave
severe

Hemos visto algunos casos raros de reacciones alérgicas severas con esta vacuna,
We have seen some rare cases of severe allergic reactions with this vaccine,

Son bien raros y tratables

7:46

Pero son bien raras y tratables.

tratable
treatable

bien raro/a
very rare

Pero son bien raras y tratables.
But they are very rare and treatable.

El riesgo es minúsculo

8:18

Además, el riesgo de vacunarse es minúsculo en comparación al riesgo de contagiarse del Covid y sufrir complicaciones.

Además
furthermore, additionally

el riesgo
risk

vacunarse
to get vaccinated

minúsculo
tiny, miniscule

en comparación a/con
in comparison to, compared to

Contagiar

9:24

contagiarse de
to become infected with

Me contagié de Covid en la fiesta.
I caught Covid at the party.

Mi hermano me contagió Covid.
My brother gave me Covid.

Practice more examples using the verb contagiar.

(las) complicaciones
complications

Además, el riesgo de vacunarse es minúsculo en comparación al riesgo de contagiarse del Covid y sufrir complicaciones.
Furthermore, the risk of getting vaccinated is miniscule compared to the risk of getting Covid and suffering complications.

Proteger a los que le rodean

11:04

Y finalmente, cuando uno se vacuna, también está protegiendo a los que le rodean.

finalmente
finally

proteger
to protect

rodear
to surround

los que te/le rodean
those around you

Y finalmente, cuando uno se vacuna, también está protegiendo a los que le rodean.
Y finalmente, cuando uno se vacuna, también está protegiendo a los que le rodean.

Cuando uno se vacuna = When one gets vaccinated = When you get vaccinated (formal)

References

The following is a great series of YouTube videos by drvellermd.com explaining the pathophysiology and trial results of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. They have videos covering a lot more on Covid, including the other vaccines.

Related Lessons

Special thanks to Elizabeth Cortéz, my Spanish teacher at the San Pedro Spanish School in Guatemala who provided most of the Spanish for this lesson.

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