If today you have access to the vaccine against the deadly Covid-19 virus, it’s all because of the strenuous efforts by the worldwide army of assiduous scientists who formulated the much anticipated Covid vaccine. So, please spare a few seconds of yours to stand up and appreciate, applaud, approve and respect the endeavours of our medical geniuses.
Coming up with result oriented Covid vaccine in such a short span of merely one year is in itself a subject of historical establishment in the history of science. Today, as of April 2021, there are not one but multiple vaccines across the world which are playing a significant role in fueling the immunization drive against Covid-19 pandemic.
Let’s have an insight on almost all the key factors revolving around Covid-19 vaccine, for an out and out knowledge.
What are the different kinds of Covid vaccines available in India and abroad?
The Covid vaccine is the vaccine intended to inject acquired immunity in human beings against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2).
Today there are not one, but multiple varieties of Covid vaccines that are available and many are still in the process of development to restrict and rupture the existence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid ‑19). These variants of Covid 19 vaccines are :
- RNA vaccines – Pfizer–BioNTech Covid -19 vaccine and the Moderna Covid -19 vaccine.
- Adenovirus vector vaccines – Oxford–AstraZeneca Covid -19 vaccine, the Sputnik V Covid -19 vaccine, Convidecia, and the Johnson & Johnson Covid -19 vaccine.
- Inactivated virus vaccines – The Chinese CoronaVac, BBIBP-CorV, and WIBP-CorV; the Indian Covaxin; and the Russian CoviVac
- Subunit vaccines – Peptide vaccine EpiVacCorona and RBD-Dimer
- Other types
How does the vaccine work?
Now that you know that there are different types of Covid vaccines, it is also essential to understand that each type of vaccine works differently. But, yes, all the vaccines aim at one common goal of immunizing the body of individuals against the Coronavirus. For this purpose, when injected, the vaccine produces T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes (after a few weeks after vaccination) in the human body, to let the immune system of the individual remember how to fight the virus in future when needed. Before getting into details, let’s see how well you’re informed about Covid-vaccine.
Now, since the generation of lymphocytes happens after a few weeks of vaccination, there are chances that the individual gets infected by the Coronavirus immediately after getting vaccinated or much before the vaccination starts playing its role of protection.
Post-vaccination, certain individuals might get few symptoms like fever or body ache for one to two days. It’s normal and not a matter of concern. Also, if you are fully vaccinated against the virus, you can resume those activities which you had paused due to the pandemic, but with all the Covid appropriate measures intact.
Does Covid 19 vaccine provide long term immunity? Or how far is the Covid -19 vaccine effective?
It’s too early to guarantee the long term immunity of the Covid vaccine against the Coronavirus. By long term immunity, we mean that a person who has taken the Covid vaccine dosage has the minimum level of adverse effect on getting infected by the Coronavirus in future.
An effective Covid vaccine provides long term, strongly sustainable immunity to the individuals against the virus. Scientists are working 24*7 to comprehend the natural adaptive immune response of the Coronavirus and provide an accurate answer to the long term immunity against the virus. Research is at its full spree by scientists to understand if regular shots of the vaccine are essential for the individuals for life long immunization against the virus or any specific conclusion.
Who should get the Covid 19 vaccine?
As of now, the developed Covid vaccines are feasibly applicable for individuals who are of age more than 18 years. So all those persons who are above the age of 18 should get vaccinated, irrespective of their pre-existing health conditions that are under control.
In case the supply of vaccines is in shortage, then a chain of priority should be set and followed. Senior citizens or elderly people and front end health warriors are more prone to get infected with this virus, and so they should get vaccinated first.
In India, the vaccination drive for front end corona warriors started first, and thereafter the vaccination began for those aged 65 years and above. Thereafter the immunization drive covered individuals who are 45 years and above. Currently, from 1st May 2021, all Indian citizens who are above the age of 18 years can get vaccinated. For this, register yourself on the link https://www.cowin.gov.in/home
Who all should avoid taking the Covid vaccine?
As per the information shared by the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the below-mentioned list of individuals should avoid taking the COVID-19 vaccine currently if they are not part of the corona front line warriors team:
- Those women who are either pregnant or breastfeed their kids.
- People who are allergic to vaccine-related pharmaceutical products or certain food items.
- If anyone faced severe side effects after getting the first dose of the Covid vaccine, then that person should avoid taking the second dose without medical consultation.
- The person with active SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- People who are in hospital because of any chronic health condition.
- Individuals suffering from blood condition like haemophilia should take the vaccine under medical supervision only.
Can a Covid positive person take the Covid 19 vaccine?
Yes, an individual can take the Covid vaccine, even if he had a past record of being Covid positive. It’s true that those who have had the coronavirus infection in the past have naturally developed antibodies against the virus. But for how long is this antibody effective is yet to be known. So, one should get vaccinated after recovering from the Coronavirus infection for becoming completely immune against the virus. Getting the Covid 19 vaccine will make the immune system more strong. The person can, however, give himself a break of four to eight weeks after recovering from Covid, before getting the vaccine.
Is the Covid vaccine safe for children?
Clinical trials are yet in the process to confirm if the teenagers and kids are safe to get vaccinated against Coronavirus. For this purpose, it’s a mandate to make the kids and teenagers abide by the appropriate Covid behaviour.
By Covid appropriate behaviour, we mean maintaining social distancing, wearing masks, blocking the mouth with an elbow while sneezing or coughing and washing the hands or sanitizing them on a regular basis.
What are the benefits of getting vaccinated with the Covid vaccine?
Getting vaccinated with the Covid vaccine elevates the level of immunity against the SARS-Cov-2 virus. On completing the entire vaccination schedule, an individual is less exposed to the adverse effects and consequences of the SARS-Cov-2 virus.
On getting vaccinated, you not only shield yourself against the deadly virus but also shield the individuals around you. As we know, Covid is a contagious virus, you being immune to this virus breaks the chain of transferring the disease from one individual to another.
Also, by getting vaccinated, you as an individual help the medical staff and the medical resources in focussing on other critical medical conditions of other individuals.
Remember, at the moment, self-care is the biggest form of social welfare with respect to Covid 19.
Are there any side effects of getting vaccinated with the Covid vaccine?
Countering mild to moderate side effects of the vaccine on getting the immunization, is very common. On getting vaccinated, the individual’s immune system behaves in a specific manner against the Covid virus if infected in future. Over here, we have categorized the Covid vaccine side effects into three categories for a clearer picture:
Generic side effects:
Generic side effects are visible only for one to two days after vaccination. These can be slight pain at the injection site, fever, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, diarrhoea and chills.
Moderate side effects:
Moderate side effects are those that lasts for more than three days. One needs to contact the health care provider if a severe allergic reaction like anaphylaxis happens or if any of the generic side effects last for more than three days.
Long term side effects:
There are no recorded long term side effects experienced by individuals on getting the vaccination. Also, since none of the available vaccines contains the live virus, there is no chance that a person can get Covid positive because of getting the vaccine done. Also, as shared earlier, that since the vaccine takes few weeks to show its immunization results, there are chances that a person gets infected by the Covid virus immediately after getting the vaccine or before the vaccine could execute its immunization task thoroughly (if Covid appropriate behaviour is not followed).
Can one stop taking precautions after getting the vaccine for Covid 19?
Are you planning to lead a life of pre-Covid era post-vaccination? If yes, please stop!
Studies suggest that even after getting vaccinated against the Covid virus, a person still needs to configure all the Covid essential parameters. Post-vaccination, only the risk of being crucially affected by the virus decreases. It never means that you can not get affected by the virus post-vaccination.
Chances of you getting infected post-vaccination still exists, although in lesser probability. So you still carry the risk of transmitting the disease from yourself to others in case you get infected with the virus.
How to get the vaccine for Covid 19?
To get vaccinated with the Covid vaccine in India, you need to register yourself on the Co-WIN (COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network) platform or Aarogya Setu app. Co-Win is a platform for Indian citizens to register themselves for the Covid vaccine as per the available and feasible schedule and spot.
You need to have your photo identity card and a mobile number to register yourself for vaccination.
The do’s and don’ts after getting the vaccine for Covid 19
If you are above eighteen years of age, you should get your Covid vaccine at the earliest. But before that, it is advisable to abide by the list of the provided do and don’ts before and after the vaccination.
- A person who is suffering from certain bleeding disorders like ‘haemophilia’ should take the vaccine only under the supervision of a medical practitioner.
- Once the vaccine has been received, you need to stay at the vaccination centre for another thirty minutes to get monitored for any adverse event following immunization (AEFI).
- Don’t panic if you get mild side effects in the form of fever or body pain or mild swelling around the injected area post-vaccination. It’s normal.
- Don’t take any over the counter medicine or take self-medication if you suffer from any prolonged side effects post-vaccination.
- Continue with all the covid measures of wearing the mask, maintaining social distance and practising hand hygiene.
- Do take both the Covid doses as per the schedule. Our Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHF&W), says that in the case of Covaxin, there should be a gap of four to six weeks in between both the doses and in the case of Covishield, the gap needs to be of four to eight weeks. WHO’s Chief Scientist, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, said..
“The first dose actually presents this new antigen to the immune system to prime it. And the second dose is the one that really gives a boost to the immune system so that the antibody response, as well as T cell, mediated response, they are very strong, and they also develop a memory response, which then lasts for a long time, so that when the body sees this antigen again, this virus protein again, it knows that it needs to react quickly..”
- Don’t forget to collect your vaccination certificate after the vaccination, either in the form of a soft copy or a hard copy.
- There are chances that the person gets infected with the Covid virus even after getting the vaccine. But that should not be an excuse for not taking the vaccine as it’s observed that the severity of impact does minimize a lot post-vaccination.
Does the current vaccine protect the individual against the new strains of Covid 19 viruses?
As per the wordings of our health ministry, a certain level of protection is available against the mutated coronaviruses, too, if the person has taken both the dosage of the Covid vaccine.
The Indian Health Ministry quoted that,
“The body responds to vaccination by making more than one type of antibodies to virus parts including spike protein…Based on the available data, the mutations as reported are unlikely to make the vaccine ineffective.”
Covid 19 vaccine latest updates.
For all the Covid vaccine updates specific to Indian origin, you need to simply click on the link https://dashboard.cowin.gov.in/
For all the Covid vaccine updates worldwide, you need to simply click on the link https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/Covid -19-vaccines
Let’s wind up!
Covid 19 virus has been a game-changer since its inception. It waggled the entire race of homo sapiens across the world within the blink of an eye. But, the team of our iron-jawed scientists across the world, left no stone unturned to create medical history by introducing the counteractants against the SARS‑CoV‑2 in the form of multiple immunization tools like the Pfizer covid vaccine, Moderna Covid-19 vaccine, CoVaxin and Covishield, to name a few.
So, as a responsible member of mankind family, you are hereby requested to be a part of the Covid-19 immunization drive, and get yourself the Covid vaccine, mask yourself appropriately, make use of sanitizer, wash your hands often and maintain social distancing. While at it, here’s a read on the positive impacts of Covid-19 to help you return to sanity.
Do feel free to reach us if your Covid vaccine query is beyond the one discussed above.
