Take the vaccine, don’t get complacent, we don’t know what lies around the corner: Expert
Consultant Immunologist Dr. Rajiva de Silva also explains concerns regarding vaccines and allergies
Omicron may not be that bad. But what if there is a more dangerous variant in the near future. The antibody levels to block it generated by vaccines may have come down but the chances are that you will have T cells. The T cells boosted by the vaccines will remain.”
With the number of people interested in taking the vaccine against COVID- 19 dropping, the Sunday Times asked Consultant Immunologist Dr. Rajiva de Silva of the Medical Research Institute ( MRI) about concerns relating to food allergies and more.
Reiterating that it is crucial for all eligible people to take the vaccine (all 3 doses – 1st, 2nd and booster) to ward off severe disease, hospitalisation and death, he urges people not to get into a state of complacency, seemingly because the Omicron variant has not been as ruthless as Delta.
“We don’t know what lies around the corner, so we need to be prepared and armed with the right tools ( vaccination) while resorting to hand hygiene, social distancing and avoiding closed and crowded places,” he says.
Next, this Immunologist looks at the concerns over allergies.
“There is no harm or danger to a person with a food allergy getting the vaccines,” he says looking at AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Sinopharm, the most commonly administered vaccines in Sri Lanka.
Vaccines against COVID-19 can be taken not only by those with food allergies but also those who get an allergic reaction after insect bites, says Dr. de Silva, pointing out that these are not ‘ contraindications’ for the vaccine, which simply means that these are not situations for the vaccine not to be given.
He explains that if a person is allergic to polyethylene glycol (in a group of additives in medications, cosmetics and food), it would be good to check with a doctor before taking the vaccine. An allergy to polyethylene glycol is very rare.
“If, however, a person has a severe allergic reaction to multiple classes of antibiotics, a Specialist’s advice should be sought before taking an mRNA vaccine ( Pfizer/ Moderna),” he says, adding that another instance a person needs to be careful is if he/she has had an allergic reaction to a previous dose of the same vaccine.
Referring to the side-effects that people are complaining of and taking as an excuse not to get the jab, Dr. de Silva said when he asks them they say these side effects are fever, body aches and pains and a pain at the injection site. These are usual and get reversed in a few days, while there is also medication like paracetamol to reduce these side effects.
Dr. de Silva says that some indicate that “various people are saying various things and I’m scared to get the side effects”. He thinks that people were initially scared to get the vaccine and now believe that Omicron is like a cold, so the fear of death has disappeared from the horizon.
“Omicron may not be that bad. But what if there is a more dangerous variant in the near future. The antibody levels to block it generated by vaccines may have come down but the chances are that you will have T cells. The T cells boosted by the vaccines will remain,” he says.
He adds: “If you are vaccinated you will get mildly infected but the T cells will help keep the virus under control without rampaging through your system. If you have got a booster, you are protected against severe disease and death and probably against a potentially lethal strain in the future.”
He looks at the bigger picture and analyses thus: One is the side effects of the vaccine and the other is the COVID-19 infection. People think that Omicron is generally safe “like a cold”, but remember there are people who are dying of Omicron.
On vaccines and immunity generated by vaccines, Dr. de Silva says that all studies done across the world indicate that the longer the wait between the 1st and 2nd doses (anything between 4 to 12 weeks) would produce a better immune response. This was indicative when considering the Wuhan virus and the Alpha and Delta variants.