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‘Jeopardy!’ Legend Ken Jennings Encourages Fans to Get Second Shots

Ken Jennings of “Jeopardy!” fame has become quite the influential figure on social media. Even though most of his content takes the form of clever jokes, the game show legend has a massive following on Twitter. And when he has something important to say, it goes straight to 500,000 people.

He recently took to Twitter to address an issue relating to COVID-19 vaccines.

In recent weeks, access to vaccines has widened. And while many are getting their first shots, a significant portion of people aren’t going back to get their second.

According to an article from the New York Times, nearly 8% of all people who received the first shot in the two-shot vaccination process of Pfizer and Moderna have skipped the second shot. There are multiple reasons for this, ranging from fear of side effects to the manufacturers running out of supply.

But Ken Jennings attempted to put people at ease by sharing his own experience with getting the vaccine.

“Just read the NYT piece today on second vaccine skippers. Your side effect mileage may vary but in my case, I was little listless most of the day after the second shot and that was it. Get both shots!” Jennings wrote.

‘Jeopardy!’ Star’s Fans Chime In on Vaccine Experience

Ken Jennings’ Twitter followers wasted no time in describing what their own experiences were like.

“First dose just sore arm. Second dose was worse and rested most the best day, but overall not too bad. Worth it to get things back to normal and help stop COVID spread,” wrote one Twitter user.

“I also had mild listlessness after my second Pfizer jab, and that was about it. I’d have been totally fine with a rougher ride because it’s worth it, but I felt fortunate to have gotten off so easy,” another chimed in.

The “Jeopardy!” star’s experience echoes that of millions around the country. The majority of people report mild side effects that quickly subside. But whether out of inconvenience or worry, the numbers of people choosing not to get their second shots are increasing.

According to the CDC, roughly 1/3 of Americans over the age of 18 have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19. The Center for Disease Control makes a point of saying that no vaccine is 100% effective. But they claim that once someone is fully vaccinated, the risk of infection can go down by 90%. Further, they say that being vaccinated can also help reduce the severity of symptoms if someone does end up contracting COVID.