Monthly Archives: May 2021

Vaccine or Inoculation is a basic and successful approach to shield individuals from infections before they interact with the actual illness

A dose of vaccine contains

• the integer which is killed or weakened bacteria or virus
• Adjuvants which helps in boosting the immunologic reaction
• Preservatives and,
• Stabilizers

HOW DOES THE COVID-19 VACCINE WORK?

The vaccine works by recognizing the invading germ of the bacteria or the virus which thus aids in production of antibodies which are proteins produced by the natural immune system

These antibodies immunity against disease so when the body is in contact with the actual disease it knows how to fight with it

ARE COVID-19 VACCINES SAFE?

Vaccines we see in market has been gone through three phase testing

in PHASE 1 it has been tested on small number of volunteers

in PHASE 2 it has been tested on hundreds of volunteers and

in PHASE 3 it has been tested on thousands of volunteers

All vaccines have passed medical tests and have been approved by Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) and WHO under Emergency Utilization Listing (UEL)

TYPES OF COVID-19 VACCINES AVAILABLE:

• WHOLE VIRUS VACCINE which includes Sinopharm and Sinovac
• RNA or mRNA VACCINE which include Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna
• NON-REPLICATING VIRAL VECTOR which include Oxford-AstraZeneca, Sputnik-V
• PROTEIN SUBUNIT which includes Novavax

All of them require 2 intramuscular doses.

SIDE EFFECTS OF COVID-19 VACCINE:

Like any other vaccination COVID-19 vaccination shows mild to moderate and short-lasting symptoms of COVID-19 such as

• Influenza
• Headache
• Muscular pain at the injection site
• Mild diarrhea
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Chills

CAN A PERSON GET COVID EVEN AFTER VACCINATION?

It is not surprising that people are still testing positive for covid-19 after getting vaccinated but the number of such cases is very small because they have developed some immunity so the severity of the illness is very less and much reduced.

VACCINATION CENTRES IN LAHORE:

Govt. of Pakistan is providing free of cost vaccination for citizens above 19 years in different centers

Around 5.36 million doses have been given in Pakistan and 1.29 million people are fully vaccinated

But it is only 0.6 % of the population of Pakistan who has been fully vaccinated

COMMON MISONCEPTION ABOUT COVID-19 VACCINE:

Common myths are rumoring around such as

COVID vaccines alters DNA

COVID vaccines causes infertility

It’s not safe because of quick rollout

Asthma patients, Pregnant women and nursing mothers can’t get the vaccine

COVID vaccine causes COVID-19

You don’t need vaccine if you had COVID

Mask and social distancing are no longer needed after vaccination

 

We are all vulnerable to vaccine misinformation before believing any unsure information check it against any trusted site like www.who.int

The oncoming of Coronavirus has brought forward notions of extreme uncertainty around the world. Issues ranging from health concerns, psychological concerns, to economic impacts, the pandemic continues to leave a mark on the population as a whole. The fight against this virus requires the individuals around the world to take the necessary precautions, test in case of suspicion, and therefore, follow the necessary SOPs to ensure personal safety, as well as the safety of others.

The virus exposure, from its emergence, has increased at such a rate that it is predicted that it is only a matter of time before it would be impacting every individual around the world. Therefore, it is vital for individuals to understand the importance of lab testing and getting a proper diagnosis; to ensure there is no further spread of neither the virus, nor any medical complication from un-identification.

The lab tests available for the virus can be divided into three broad categories: antigen tests, antibody tests, and molecular/PCR tests. These types would be discussed below in further detail.

1. Antigen Tests:

These are considered to be the rapid diagnosis tests available for the virus. To obtain the sample, a nasopharyngeal swab is taken to find any protein of the virus. The tests are helpful in finding individuals near the infection stage, or at the peak of the infection. A positive aspect of these tests is that they are generally a lot faster and cheaper in providing with the results.

However, the major issue arises with their accuracy. These tests are generally less accurate than the other lab tests that are available. For example, if the individual is not nearing the peak stage of the virus, the result can come back negative, despite the individual actually having the virus. Similarly, along with false negatives, there are problems of false positives as well. The false positives could be from the result of other similar infections, or improper handling methods.

2. PCR/Molecular Tests:

In the general terms, if we look into the matter, not all molecular tests apply the use of PCR (polymerase chain reaction), but the aspect is vital for the diagnosis of COVID-19. The test works by identifying the genetic makeup of the virus: RNA. The method of collection of the sample is similar to the antigen tests, in which nasopharyngeal swab is taken. The test, however, takes hours to produce the result, but ensures 100% accuracy. This is majorly due to the fact that these tests are highly sensitive in detecting the virus.

However, it needs to be understood that handling the test is a tedious task, and not all carried out tests are perfect. If the molecular test is not maneuvered in the correct manner, the chance of false positives increases to fifteen to twenty percent. The drawback for this test is that even if the individual has recovered from the virus, the test can still detect traces of it, which may lead towards the problem of false positives.

3. Antibody Tests:

Unlike the previously mentioned two tests, these tests are not used for the diagnosis of the virus. Another name for the test is the serology test. It uses the blood sample of individuals to detect whether the antibodies exist within the bodies that fight off the virus; thus giving insights on the immune systems of the individuals tested. The test can detect if someone had the virus in the past, but is not helpful in finding out current infections. Experts have said that the importance of the test would be generated, after a proper vaccine exists.