Coronavirus: Concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine have been answered
By Dr. Zulfikar Bux
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt Medical Center
Kaieteur News– The world is going through the worst phase of the pandemic to date. Causes and death rates are increasing as the virus rolls into more effective strains. The only obvious way we can get hold of the situation and exit the pandemic slowly, is to vaccinate about 80 percent of the world’s population. Being vaccinated is voluntary and we rely on each other to do the right thing by having our COVID-19 shootings. Unfortunately, there are many myths being peddled about the COVID-19 vaccines and it creates unwanted fears and doubts. Today, I will address some common misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccine in the hope of bringing clarity to the crimes that are being peddled especially on social media.
The COVID-19 vaccine was developed so quickly, does this not make it unsafe?
Millions of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been given and so far proved to be safe and effective. Although developed in record time, it has gone through the same rigorous Food and Drug Administration process as all other vaccines, meeting all safety standards. No action was omitted. In fact, the clinical trials and safety reviews took about the same amount of time as other vaccines. Scientists used existing technologies, which saved most of the time needed to develop a vaccine from scratch. Also, this is the first time such a worldwide focus and investment has created vaccine creation. Adequate funding and co-operation made the process much more efficient.
Are there no serious side effects such as severe allergic reactions?
Some participants in the clinical trials of the vaccine reported side effects similar to those experienced with other vaccines, including muscle pain, chills and headaches. And although extremely rare, people can have severe allergic reactions to ingredients used in a vaccine. This is why experts should recommend that people with a history of severe allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis to vaccine ingredients should not receive the vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine has more media coverage than any other vaccine in history. Because of this, the usual side effects of the vaccine get more exposure than usual and create unnecessary fears. Although panadol is a safe over-the-counter drug, if we gave it 50 million people to drink, we would definitely find people with side effects and allergies. This does not mean that panadol or the COVID-19 vaccine is unsafe; it is a logical expectation that comes with giving any safe drug or vaccine to so many people.
Do I need the vaccine if I already had COVID-19?
If you have already had COVID-19, there is still evidence that you can benefit from the vaccine. At this time, experts do not know how long a person is protected from becoming ill again after recovering from COVID-19. The immunity that a person gains from an infection, called natural immunity, varies from person to person. Some early evidence suggests that natural immunity may not last very long.
Can I Get COVID-19 from the Vaccine?
You cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine because it does not contain the live virus.
Shouldn’t those at high risk of COVID-19 be vaccinated alone?
No matter what your risk, you can still catch the infection and spread it to others, so it’s important to get vaccinated. Once the vaccine is widely available, it is recommended that as many eligible adults as possible receive the vaccine. In addition, physicians are finding long-term complications in those who are not high-risk and who had COVID-19.
Can I move around without a mask once I’m vaccinated?
Masking, hand washing and physical distance are needed until a sufficient number of people are immune. The best protection we can offer each other at this time is to continue to follow current guidelines. As more people get vaccinated, experts will have a better idea of how long natural immunity and vaccine last. Anyway, most vaccines require you to have two doses and wait about a month for your body to develop immunity.
I’m hopeful that the day will come when we don’t have to wear masks and can be free to move around. However, that day will not come without adequate vaccination of the world’s population. So, we need to do our bit and get vaccinated and avoid spreading fears and misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccine.