ARE COVID-19 VACCINES SAFE?
Taking a vaccination is the first step towards protecting yourself. While certain side effects are there depending on individual cases, this shouldn’t dissuade people from taking the vaccine in the first place, as per the doctors....
The increasing number of COVID cases and a barrage of information available across the various channels on COVID-19 vaccines can alarm anyone. It has raised plenty of questions.
Should we take COVID vaccination?
Which COVID vaccine should one opt for?
Are COVID-19 vaccines 100% safe?
What are the side effects of COVID vaccines? What precautions should one take?
Is it possible to get COVID even after vaccination? Here are answers to all your questions.
Should you take the vaccine?
Taking a vaccination is the first step towards protecting yourself. While certain side effects are there depending on individual cases, this shouldn't dissuade people from taking the vaccine in the first place, as per the doctors.
Covishield or Covaxin - Which vaccine to take?
Currently in India, the Covishield vaccine and the Covaxin vaccine are the two available for commercial use. Explaining in detail about the vaccination, Dr Sameer Gupta, Director, Cardiac Cath Lab, Metro Group of Hospital, MD, Aurum Senior and Assisted Living said, "The Covishield is a DNA vaccine which codes for the spike protein whereas the Covaxin produces antibodies against many regions of the complete virus. This is a fully inactivated virus. Both the vaccines do an effective job of preventing severe infection, hospitalization and we should be ready to take whichever one is available to us when the time comes."
Are COVID vaccines safe?
Vaccines have helped in the eradication of multiple diseases for years but are COVID vaccines safe? "Now once you get the vaccine are you 100% safe, the answer is no. But the risk of transmission presumably goes down and secondarily the risk of you getting complications goes down drastically to 85% to 90%," Dr Shriram Nene, Healthcare Innovator and Cardiovascular Surgeon told us.
What Are The Side Effects?
In most cases, people have adjusted well to the vaccination. However, depending on your body some can have an after effect. "While most respond well, some people can have side effects such as low-grade fever, fatigue, tiredness, swelling, pain and redness at the injection site. Sometimes one can have a fever which can last for a few days but in the end, it is better than getting Covid and dying in the hospital," explains Dr Gupta.
Things to keep in mind when getting vaccinated
First and foremost, if you have an immune-compromised condition, make sure to inform the doctor. Also, individuals with comorbidities (a person who has multiple underlying health-related conditions present at once) are at more risk of getting infected and should prioritise receiving the vaccine. "I often get asked if it is safe to get the vaccine if a person has comorbidities (such as diabetes, high blood pressure). For such individuals, the potential benefits offered by the vaccine far outweigh the minuscule risks that have been reported after millions of doses all over the world. Those on blood thinners need to consult their physicians and would be advised to apply pressure on the site of the vaccine for 3-5 minutes after receiving the vaccine," says Dr. Lancelot Pinto, Consultant Pulmonologist, P.D Hinduja Hospital & MRC.
Things to follow during first and second vaccine shots
It is important to understand the core requirement of the vaccination. The goal of vaccination is to prevent severe hospitalisation and deaths. Elaborating on the vaccination, requirements, interval shots and more Dr Gupta points out, “For the vaccine to be effective, we need adequate antibodies which will be achieved after both the doses and typically after 2-3 weeks of the second dose. The duration between the first and second doses of the vaccination of Covishield is intended to be four weeks. However, new data has come out that shows better immunogenicity if there is a 6 to 8-week interval between the two doses. This is also being recommended by the government. With Covaxin, the dosing interval is still four weeks. It is important not to mix and match your vaccine and stick with it as recommended by the government and health authorities.”
What are the chances of getting Covid post vaccination?
You think COVID can't touch you after vaccination? Wrong. "There are chances of getting COVID post both the first and second doses. However, across the world, and for all vaccines that have been used, the chances of getting severe COVID or dying from COVID after vaccination seem to have significantly reduced. One must not assume that being vaccinated equates to letting one’s guard down. One must continue taking all the precautions as before," says Dr Pinto.
Precautions post vaccine
• Take rest and don't exert yourself
• Do not engage in strenuous physical activity for a couple of days
• Keep yourself hydrated
• In case you feel feverish, take paracetamol or crocin
• Sleep well to prevent exacerbating the potential adverse effects such as body aches, fever and soreness
• Don't stop your regular medications (hypertension, diabetes and more) until advised by the doctor
• Wear masks everywhere you go
• Wash and sanitise your hands regularly • Continue to practice social distancing
While most respond well, some people can have side effects such as lowgrade fever, fatigue, tiredness, swelling, pain and redness at the injection site. Sometimes one can have a fever which can last for a few days but in the end, it is better than getting Covid and dying in the hospital
Now once you get the vaccine are you 100% safe, the answer is no. But the risk of transmission presumably goes down and secondarily the risk of you getting complications goes down drastically to 85% to 90%