What is the Covid - 19 vaccine?
The world is in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic. At this moment, WHO has approved several vaccines which shown high effectiveness in their clinical trials.
A COVID‑19 vaccine is a vaccine intended to provide acquired immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2), the virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19). As of February 2021, eleven vaccines are authorized by at least one national regulatory authority for public use.
Two RNA vaccines :
The Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine and the Moderna vaccine
Four conventional inactivated vaccines :
BBIBP-CorV, Covaxin, CoronaVac and CoviVac
Four viral vector vaccines :
Sputnik V, the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine, Convidicea, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine
One peptide vaccine :
EpiVacCorona
Pfizer and Moderna have both developed RNA vaccines. Then inject a tiny fragment of the virus's genetic code into the body, which starts producing part of the coronavirus and pushes the body to mount a defense.
The Oxford vaccine is different as it uses a harmless virus to carry the same genetic material into the body. It is the easiest of the three to use as it can be stored in a fridge, rather than needing very cold temperatures.
All three are supposed to be given in two doses.
Why do we need to get COVID 19 vaccine?
The COVID-19 vaccines produce protection against the disease, as a result of developing an immune response to the SARS-Cov-2 virus. Developing immunity through vaccination means there is a reduced risk of developing the illness and its consequences. This immunity helps you to fight against the virus Getting vaccinated may also protect people around you, because if you are protected from getting infected and from disease, you are less likely to infect someone else.
This is particularly important to protect people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, such as healthcare providers, older or elderly adults, and people with other medical conditions. Studies show that COVID-19 vaccines are very effective at keeping you from getting COVID-19. Scientists also think that getting a COVID-19 vaccine may help keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19. These vaccines cannot give you the disease itself.
Can we move to a fully normal lifestyle after vaccination?
To stop this pandemic, we need to use all of our prevention tools. Vaccines are one of the most effective tools to protect your health and prevent disease
future we must continue wearing masks, physically distancing and avoiding crowds. Being vaccinated does not mean that we can throw caution to the wind and put ourselves and others at risk, particularly because it is still not clear the degree to which the vaccines can protect not only against disease but also against infection and transmission.
Myths COVID-19 vaccine
The vaccine is unsafe since the Process is so quick.
The vaccine is proven safe and effective. Although it was developed in record time, it has gone through the same rigorous Food and Drug Administration process as every other vaccine, meeting all safety standards. No steps were skipped. Instead, we can thank the unprecedented worldwide collaboration and investment for the shorter timeframe on the development of the vaccine itself. The clinical trials and safety reviews actually took about the same amount of time as other vaccines.
Severe Side effects.
Some participants in the vaccine clinical trials did report side effects similar to those experienced with other vaccines, including muscle pain, chills and headache. And although extremely rare, people can have severe allergic reactions to ingredients used in a vaccine. That’s why experts recommend people with a history of severe allergic reactions — such as anaphylaxis — to the ingredients of the vaccine should not get the vaccination.
The COVID-19 vaccine can alter DNA.
The first vaccines granted emergency use authorization contain messenger RNA (mRNA), which instructs cells to make the “spike protein” found on the new coronavirus. When the immune system recognizes this protein, it builds an immune response by creating antibodies — teaching the body how to protect against future infection. The mRNA never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA (genetic material) is kept. The body gets rid of the mRNA soon after it’s finished using the instructions.
The COVID-19 vaccine causes infertility in women.
Misinformation on social media suggests the vaccine trains the body to attack syncytin-1, a protein in the placenta, which could lead to infertility in women. The truth is, there’s an amino acid sequence shared between the spike protein and a placental protein; however, experts say it’s too short to trigger an immune response and therefore doesn’t affect fertility.
Once I receive the vaccine, I may test positive for COVID-19.
Viral tests used to diagnose COVID-19 check samples from the respiratory system for the presence of the virus that causes COVID-19. Since there is no live virus in the vaccines, the vaccines will not affect your test result. It is possible to get infected with the virus before the vaccine has had time to fully protect your body.
Kavishka Anjana
References
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccines-myth-versus-fact
https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-(covid-19)-vaccines?adgroupsurvey
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