Updated Jan 2022
As many countries have approved COVID vaccines for emergency use and mass vaccination drives, it is a moment of global pride and a celebration of science and medicine. Also coming with this are apprehensions and concerns. Therefore keeping these 5 points in mind can be useful and reassuring.
ARE THE COVID VACCINES SAFE?
All the vaccines which have got emergency authorization and approval in different countries are safe. They have been tested in thousands of people through clinical and real-world studies and the data has been carefully scrutinized by regulators.
COVID vaccines (like the vaccines for other infections being taken over several years) can cause reactions in some people, like local injection site pain, stiffness, swelling, or irritation, and some general symptoms like fever, body ache, headache, tiredness, and weakness. However, these are mild and resolve in a day or two. Ice can be applied on the injection site and paracetamol may be taken if needed.
Severe allergic reactions are very rare (1-10/million), and mostly in people with a prior history. They are manageable with anti-allergic medications available at vaccination centers. Vaccine-related neurological effects (like Bell’s palsy, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and transverse myelitis) are also very rare and show resolution. Recent reports of cases of thrombosis (blood clots) especially in young women with adenoviral vaccines have raised concerns but the incidence in those vaccinated is lesser than or comparable to that seen in the general population. There have also been few reports of myocarditis post mRNA vaccine in young males however that was found to be transient without serious sequelae.
There are limited studies on the safety of vaccines in pregnant or lactating women, however, vaccination is of significant importance in these groups as they are vulnerable to more severe COVID if infected. The USFDA/CDC has permitted the use of its approved vaccines in pregnancy and lactation after individual risk evaluation and proper counseling. Similarly, the MoHFW India and many other countries have also released guidelines for use of their approved vaccines in pregnancy and lactation.
The benefits of COVID vaccination far outweigh the risk of suffering from COVID which can lead to complications, hospitalization, death, or long-term health concerns.
HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE COVID VACCINES WORK?
All the vaccines which have got emergency authorization and approval in different countries have done so only after testing that the vaccine works by generating adequate protective immunity in the form of antibodies and other cytokine immune markers against COVID in phase 2 studies in hundreds of people. The data of these studies are available in public domain.
Vaccine effectiveness shown by vaccinated people not getting COVID, needs a long duration of monitoring and surveillance in a large population. Even so, phase 3 studies for such evidence in thousands of people were conducted and the efficacy results are available in the public domain.
It is evident that the vaccines that showed an adequate immune response in phase 2, also showed efficacy in phase 3 with immunogenicity being a surrogate marker of efficacy and effectiveness. Therefore, some vaccines were given emergency authorization based on their immunogenicity and safety data, so that they can be beneficial during the pandemic to meet mass vaccination needs. However, in all such cases, phase 3 was ongoing and in most cases subsequently completed, with the data published as well as being further constantly monitored.
As of now, there is no evidence to suggest that the vaccines will not work against variant strains, though the absolute level of immunity developed may vary as that is based on both neutralizing antibodies as well as T-cell response. In case of drastic mutations occurring in the future in the COVID-19 virus, the vaccines may be suitably updated. As of now, vaccines are still the most effective way of preventing severe disease, hospitalization, complication, and death even with respect to COVID variants including the latest Omicron.
Some vaccines with stringent storage conditions may not be feasible in certain countries which may have to opt for vaccines easily storable in a regular refrigerator at 2-8 deg C. Also it is difficult to vaccinate the entire population of some countries with imported vaccines alone, therefore indigenous or collaborative vaccine development and manufacturing holds the key to cater to large scale successful vaccination drives.
CAN ONE GET COVID AFTER BEING VACCINATED, AND ARE MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING STILL NEEDED?
The optimal protective immunity is seen to set in around 10-14 days after the final vaccination dose. Therefore, till then you may be at some risk of getting COVID so the precautions of wearing masks in public, social distancing and frequent hand washing and sanitizing may be enforced by countries in various degrees based on the percentage of population vaccinated.
Even post-vaccination, one can be an asymptomatic carrier so you may not suffer COVID but can give it to someone who is previously unexposed or does not have protection by either natural immunity or vaccine. Therefore to reach the stage of pre-COVID normalcy, more and more people will have to take the vaccine to achieve effective herd immunity. Only thereafter can decisions on not needing masks and social distancing be taken.
No vaccine can give 100% protection, but even if one does get symptomatic COVID, it would be mild, avoiding the risk of complications, hospitalization, and mortality.
Boosters: The immunity has been seen to last for 6 months and possibly up to a year, however, this is still being monitored and evaluated by regular follow-up of clinical trial participants and vaccinated groups. Some countries have recommended and started booster doses after 6 months of the last vaccine dose, while other countries like India are still in the process of formulating guidelines for boosters, with the current focus being on giving the primary 2 doses of the vaccine to the entire adult population.
IS IT COMPULSORY TO GET VACCINATED?
Vaccination against COVID is entirely voluntary.
However, it is highly recommended for everybody to get vaccinated for personal protection against suffering from severe COVID and its sequelae.
Health care workers and front-line workers should all definitely be vaccinated. Elderly people and those with co-morbidities like diabetes, hypertension, heart/kidney/liver ailments, respiratory conditions, reduced immunity post-transplant or HIV, etc. should take the vaccine as they are more prone to developing severe COVID and its complications if infected.
Even those who have already suffered from COVID, can take the vaccination at 3 months post-recovery.
It is also important to get vaccinated for attaining herd immunity in the community as more and more people getting vaccinated can reduce the virus spreading even in the unvaccinated population. Till this stage is reached, the wearing of masks and social distancing cannot be completely done away with.
Vaccination is only possible at designated COVID vaccination centers by prior registration, but to increase convenience and coverage, walk-in registration and vaccination is being encouraged.
Vaccination is now a travel requirement in most countries and is also considered an entry pass to many public places and transport.
HOW DOES ONE DECIDE WHEN AND WHICH COVID VACCINE TO TAKE?
One should register on the country’s official vaccine platform as soon as the same is open or visit the nearest COVID vaccination center. Thereafter one gets the vaccine in accordance with prioritized high-risk groups and vaccination protocols. The vaccination centers are organized and well equipped to manage socially distanced queueing and waiting, administration of the vaccine by a qualified health care worker, and post-vaccination observation for reactions. Notification for 2nd dose, and certification of completed vaccination are also incorporated in the process.
One should take whichever vaccine is available and not wait or make attempts to procure a particular or alternate vaccine, as this can not only disturb the organized vaccination system and process of the country, but also not confer any potential advantage or benefit.
CURRENTLY APPROVED COVID VACCINES FOR EMERGENCY USE:
Most vaccines are taken as 2 doses, 4 weeks apart, however vaccine availability and population load can be factors that induce variability. For Astra Zeneca-Oxford (Covishield) up to 12 weeks gap between doses is being practiced in some countries. Johnson and Johnson is currently a single-dose vaccine, and ZyCoV-D is a three-dose vaccine.
Most vaccines are currently for 18 years and above (exceptions mentioned for individual vaccines). Of these vaccines below, 8 (Pfizer-BioNtech, Moderna, Oxford-AstraZeneca, Covishield, Covaxin, Johnson and Johnson, Coronavac, and Sinopharm) are WHO approved and recognized.
- Pfizer-BioNtech mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 /Comirnaty: Approved ved in 122 countries including USA, UK, EU, Canada, UAE, Singapore and Israel. Authorized for children 5 years + children by USFDA.
- Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine: Approved in 83 countries including USA, EU, UK, Canada. Authorized for 12 years + children in UK, EU, Canada and Japan.
- Oxford-Astra Zeneca Adenoviral vector vaccine AZD1222: Approved in 134 countries including UK, EU. Covishield -India in collaboration with Serum Institute, Pune is approved in 47 countries and as part of India’s vaccine diplomacy).
- Sputnik V Adenoviral vector vaccine: Approved in 74 countries including Russia, and UAE, and in India in collaboration with Dr. Reddy’s Labs. Single-dose Sputnik light (single dose) approved in 22 countries including Russia.
- Johnson and Johnson Adenoviral vector vaccine AD26.COV2.S: Approved in 95 countries including USA, EU.
- CanSino Ad5-N-CoV Adenoviral vector vaccine: Approved in 10 countries including China.
- Covaxin Bharat Biotech-ICMR-NIV inactivated vaccine: Approved in 12 countries including India. Authorized for 12 years and above.
- Coronavac -Sinovac inactivated vaccine: Approved in 48 countries including China. Authorized by China for 3 years and above children.
- Sinopharm inactivated vaccine BBIBP-CorV: Approved in 80 countries including China, and UAE. Authorized for 3 years and above children in China and some countries.
- NVX-CoV2373 (Nuvaxovid) protein subunit vaccine from Novavax: Approved in 30 countries across EU, and as Covovax from Novavax-Serum Institute in India, Indonesia and Philippines.
- Corbevax protein subunit vaccine developed by BioE India- Baylor College of Medicine, USA: Approved in India
- ZyCoV-D – Needle-less intradermal 3-dose DNA plasmid vaccine: Approved in India for 12 years and above.
Register on your country’s COVID vaccine platform or portal as soon as possible.
As of December 2021, around 9 billion vaccination shots have been given globally in more than 180 countries with various COVID vaccines. As part of GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, WHO), the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) is acting as a platform to support the research, development, and manufacturing of a wide range of COVID-19 vaccines to ensure that participating countries, regardless of income levels, will have equal access to these vaccines once they are developed. The initial aim was to have 2 billion doses available by the end of 2021, to protect all high risk and vulnerable people, and frontline healthcare workers.
COVID Vaccine trials:
Astra Zeneca- Oxford Adenoviral vector vaccine
Astra Zeneca-Oxford vaccine pooled analysis
COVISHIELD and COVAXIN – India
India COVID Vaccination – Real-world survey evidence
Sputnik V human Adenoviral vector vaccine
Johnson and Johnson Adenoviral vector vaccine
ZyCoV-D phase II and phase III approval
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2 Comments
The article puts lots of doubts and apprehensions to rest. The advantages of taking the vaccine are explained in a very lucid manner.
Thank you Dr. Varsha for such a timely article .
Very Well explained. Great.