Dispelling Myths and Misinformation – Emergency Physicians Separate Fact from Fiction About COVID-19 & the Vaccines

Dr. Jessica Solis-McCarthy, MD, FACEP, emergency medicine physician at UT Health San Antonio and University Hospital and spokesperson for the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), discusses misconceptions about getting the COVID-19 vaccine and address​es​ the most common concerns she has encountered from those hesitant to receive the​ shot. 

Jessica Solis-McCarthy, MD, FACEP, emergency medicine physician at UT Health San Antonio and University Hospital and spokesperson for ACEP

I am an Emergency Medicine physician born and raised in South Texas. Being a first generation American from a single-parent immigrant family, I aspired at an early age to obtain a professional degree. Growing up in the medically underserved areas of South Texas, I had first hand experience with the medical disparities of my community, I developed a passion to one day be able to contribute back to my community in the form of medical services.   As I delved into science and medicine, I aspired to become a physician—a career choice that I quickly realized would entail being a life-long learner and teacher. As I journeyed into my career in medicine, I chose to remain close to home in Texas in hopes of one day returning back to South Texas to fulfill my mission. With each career milestone I achieved, I realized that a career in academics is where I found the most satisfaction. Upon completing my ultrasound fellowship at UT Health San Antonio, I decided to stay on as clinical faculty. My training in Emergency Medicine and Point-of-Care Ultrasound has allowed me several opportunities to directly impact learners at a variety of stages in their medical career, via national ultrasound training courses as well as a recent grant funded ultrasound educational initiative targeting Emergency Medicine doctors of the Rio Grande Valley. I hope to continue to learn from my medical practice as well as teach in the South Texas region in hopes of closing the gap in medical disparities.