I didn't want to be the first to say it but
It has no track record yet.
Well, that's not entirely accurate. There have been tens of thousands who took the vaccines before they were approved and there have millions since then. The mRNA type vaccine is not a new idea or concept, it has been under development for about a decade. Using this method to combat a corona virus is relatively new.
In the meantime, until we have enough people vaccinated many more will die. So far the count is at 433,000 dead; about the same number as Americans who died in WWII and 8 times the number who died in Viet Nam. Given today's data, about 1% of those who contract Covid will die.
About 25 million US citizens have received one or both doses, about the same number who have contracted Covid in the past year. So far no one has died from the vaccine. There have been a handful of reports about allergic reactions, which are quickly and safely treated.
Using these numbers, it is far less risky to get a vaccine than it is to get Covid. Simple decision for me. Until enough people are vaccinated the virus will be a significant health risk and it will be necessary to live with social and business restrictions and wear masks.
An interesting side note, at least in NY the flu is practically nonexistent. Epidemiologists are attributing this to mask wearing and social distancing.
**The data cited here is publicly available and compiled by The NY Times. nytimes.com
