![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
Myth-busting COVID-19 and the vaccines
An illustration of the COVID-19 virus. This article addresses common myths surrounding COVID-19, the delta variant and vaccines and provides accurate answers from the CDC and The New England Journal of Medicine.
August 28, 2021
Do I still need to wear a mask if I’m vaccinated?
Yes. Though the CDC only requires unvaccinated individuals to wear a mask, all vaccinated individuals are encouraged to continue wearing masks. Unvaccinated people are more likely to contract the virus and spread it to others, but those who are vaccinated are still susceptible to breakthrough infections since vaccinated individuals can still carry the delta variant. So, if you interact with anyone who is unvaccinated, you could still transmit the virus without a mask.
Can the COVID-19 vaccines cause side effects? Are they dangerous?
Yes and no. The common side effects of the Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines include pain and swelling at the vaccination site and occasionally headaches and muscle pain. In about two cases per million, vaccine administration causes a severe allergic reaction. However, the allergic reaction can be immediately treated on site by the vaccine provider. There are no long-term side effects from any of the COVID-19 vaccines.
Does the vaccine work against the delta variant?
Yes. Since the delta variant is derived from the original virus, the COVID-19 vaccine is effective against both. For instance, the Pfizer vaccine is about 94% effective against the original virus and 88% effective against the delta variant.
How much more dangerous is the delta variant?
According to the CDC, the delta variant is up to two times more contagious than other strains of the coronavirus and can cause more severe reactions in unvaccinated individuals. In cases in which vaccinated people contract the virus, also known as “breakthrough cases,” the delta variant can still reproduce and spread to others, but breakthrough cases are usually infectious for less time than cases in unvaccinated people.
Will COVID-19 weaken over time?
Probably not. As organisms reproduce, random mutations can occur. In accordance with natural selection, the mutations that are most conducive to reproduction become most prevalent. In the case of the coronavirus, random mutations eventually enabled the creation of variants such as the delta variant that are more dangerous and therefore more likely to reproduce.
Do any COVID-19 vaccines release the coronavirus into the body?
No, Pfizer and Moderna are both mRNA vaccines, which means that they contain instructions for making a protein piece. The immune system recognizes the protein as foreign and begins creating antibodies to defend against it. When the body actually comes into contact with COVID-19, it already has the instructions on how to prevent infection. Since mRNA vaccines do not contain a weakened form of the virus, it does not shed or decompose into the body.
