‘Go for the vaccination, it’s safe’

World renowned Dr D Nageshwar Reddy, explains why we must all take the Covid vaccine and not have any doubt with regard to its efficacy

Covid-19 vaccines are safe and it’s a social responsibility for all to get jabs and come out of the pandemic at the earliest, says Dr D Nageshwar Reddy, chairman and chief of gastroenterology at AIG Hospitals. He spoke to Deccan Chronicle in the context of the controversies relating to the vaccines.

Excerpts from an interview:

QThere’s

a lot of confusion as to whether the vaccines are safe or not. Healthcare workers, first in the line of jabs, are upset as some doctors say it is safe and some other medical practitioners say it is not.

A: There is the question as to how the vaccine has come in a span of nine months. Science has evolved over the years. In the past, vaccines took years to emerge. Now, we have a vaccine-creating platform ready with us. This, the government and funds from different agencies acted in unison and accelerated the process. Scientists, regulators and volunteers joined hands on a single platform. So, things moved fast. Safety is determined in Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials. Phase 3 trials would determine efficacy. In relation to all the vaccines that we have, of Pfizer, the Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech, safety trials have shown they all are safe.

QIf

a section of doctors and others in the healthcare sector are not taking the vaccine, what message this will send out?

A.

The

myth

within

the

healthcare industry is going to be resolved with a consensus statement where all senior doctors and those from the healthcare sector will come together and state that it is safe. There are more than 50,000 people in the clinical trials having taken the vaccine and they are safe. The vaccine of Bharat Biotech has been tried on 20,000 people in clinical trials and it is safe. There is no adverse effect.

QAre

there enough of immunogenicity data for us to go ahead?

A. To control pandemics,

Emergency Use Authorisation system was started by World Health Organisation in 2009. This was done when the first SARS Cov 1 broke out in China. An EUA is given during a pandemic with the aim to save lives, control infection and severe the outcomes of the disease. Data from clinical trials on immunogenicity shows that the vaccinated group is safe from the disease. Efficacy will be known over a period of time. These are interlinked and they give us an idea of how long will the immunity be provided from the vaccine.

QThere

are fears of early onset of neurological disorders and other genetic changes in the body after the vaccination?

A. There is no evidence to say that there could be neurological disorders. The three cases where adverse effects were noted abroad have been due to other reasons.

QThere

are lots of questions from scientists on how the clearance was given in India without proper efficacy reports.

A. Scientists require complete data before going ahead. They are right. But we have to be practical and control the virus spread. Research in AIG has shown that natural antibodies after the infection exist only up to six months. There is a risk factor.

QDoes

this mean that the vaccine will have to be taken every year? A. We have to see how it evolves. For now, we know that there is a possibility of taking vaccines every year for a section of people, like emergency workers, those with co-morbid conditions etc. When we get 50 or 60 per cent people vaccinated, then the remaining will be safe. QWill

the coronavirus vaccine then be like the influenza vaccine where a new strain is taken every year and new vaccine developed?

A. We are seeing a similarity as the mutations occur. Influenza viruses have larger mutations but corona does not have so many mutations. The vaccine will work for the new strains.

QDo

those with co-morbid conditions have to undergo health check-up before taking the vaccine?

A. There is no need for any health check before vaccination. In a pandemic situation, vulnerable groups must take the vaccine. After the vaccination also, all the safety protocols of masks and handwashing will have to be followed. Those who are suffering from cancer, kidney problems and critical disorders will require more than two doses.

QWill

living with corona only with vaccines?

be

safe

A. In five to 10 years, the T-cell will protect body from infection. It’s an hypothesis that the vaccine can become a fiveyearly course. It will all depend on the manner in which the situation emerges. For now, if we want to come out of the pandemic, we must get the maximum people vaccinated now, so that by July, we are in control of the situation.

Safety is determined in Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials. Phase 3 trials would determine efficacy. In relation to all the vaccines that we have, of Pfizer, the Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech, safety trials have shown they all are safe

Scientists require

complete data before going ahead. They are right. But

we have to be practical and control

the virus spread. Research in AIG has shown that natural antibodies after the infection exist only up to six months. There is a

risk factor