ED VoxPop is where we ask people different survey questions and get responses to conduct sort of a poll of our own.
A few years from now, when we sit back and think of the year 2020, we will just have 2 words for defining it… COVID-19 and quarantine. Okay, physical distancing and masks also.
In a nutshell, 2020 was an absolute horror movie. Coronavirus stole an entire year out of our lives.
But now, it finally looks like we might be reaching the end of this scare and be able to move on to 2021 with the power to fight back.
After only a year of research, scientists may have developed a COVID vaccine that works!
But before we get into that, let’s have a look at the entire situation.
Vaccine And Its Development
Vaccines are made up of diminutive parts or blueprints of the parts of the organisms that cause the disease for which the vaccine is being prepared. This helps our immune system in generating antibodies.
Another essential ingredient of vaccines are those that keep them safe and effective, these ingredients are common in most of the vaccines that have already been out there for years.
Before testing the vaccines, the ingredients themselves are thoroughly tested.
All vaccines contain antigen, an active component that generates an immune response, some vaccines have preservatives and adjuvants. Diluents, surfactant, and residuals are other essential ingredients.
Before being available to the public, all vaccines go through several degrees of changes, screenings, testings, and trials.
The process of creating vaccines starts with research and a preclinical phase. According to the WHO website, “An experimental vaccine is first tested in animals to evaluate its safety and potential to prevent disease. If the vaccine triggers an immune response, it is then tested in human clinical trials in three phases”.
After that, a vaccine goes through three phases where it is gradually introduced to an increasing amount of population, from a small number of volunteers to at least a thousand.
“When the results of all these clinical trials are available, a series of steps are required, including reviews of efficacy and safety for regulatory and public health policy approvals. Officials in each country closely review the study data and decide whether to authorize the vaccine for use. A vaccine must be proven to be safe and effective across a broad population before it will be approved and introduced into a national immunization programme.”
Even after its introduction, a vaccine is continuously monitored in a systematic way and policies and markets are affected by these results simultaneously.
Myths About COVID Vaccines
There are several myths revolving around the COVID vaccines, therefore, while scientists are doing their job, it is ours to educate ourselves and understand the how-what-why facts around the COVID vaccines.
- COVID vaccines will not give us COVID. Vaccines can trigger immune responses similar to COVID and cause symptoms like fever. However, these symptoms are normal but it will not cause the disease.
- Vaccines will not show a positive result in COVID tests. It is only possible to be tested positive for antibodies.
- Even if you have already had coronavirus, a vaccine will still be proven beneficial.
“At this time, experts do not know how long someone is protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. The immunity someone gains from having an infection, called natural immunity, varies from person to person. Some early evidence suggests natural immunity may not last very long.”
“We won’t know how long immunity produced by a vaccination lasts until we have a vaccine and more data on how well it works,” said CDC.
- mRNA vaccines do not alter DNA.
“mRNA is not able to alter or modify a person’s genetic makeup (DNA). The mRNA from a COVID-19 vaccine never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA is kept. This means the mRNA does not affect or interact with our DNA in any way.”
“Both natural immunity and vaccine-induced immunity are important aspects of COVID-19 that experts are trying to learn more about, and CDC will keep the public informed as new evidence becomes available.”
Also Read: Rich Indians Plan To Go To UK For COVID Vaccine, But Will They Get It?
Current Situation
The Union Minister announced that a vaccine will be available in the country in a few weeks. India is considering Pfizer’s vaccine, which has an efficacy rate of 95% after the US pharma industry proposed an emergency authorization here.
The other two vaccines in consideration are being developed by Bharat Biotech (Covaxin) and Serum Institute of India (Covishield), both of them are currently in phase 3 trials.
The applications for these vaccines will be reviewed by the subject expert community (SEC) at the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
Except these three, few other strong contenders like India’s first mRNA vaccine, Zydus Cadila, Sputnik V are coming forward in the race.
In the US, Pfizer’s vaccine has been granted authorization for public use. One of the worst-hit countries in the world will finally have a vaccine for the people. Health care workers and the elderly will be prioritized.
Britain, Bahrain, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico have already approved the two-dose regimen and started distribution.
But Are People Willing To Take The Vaccine?
With the uncertainties revolving around the vaccine and COVID-19 itself, people might be reluctant to take the vaccine, especially immediately after its release. On the other hand, some people are desperately waiting for the vaccine to come so that they can resume their normal lives.
Some people don’t just have medical doubts but are also worried about vaccines being used for political gains by the authorities. Several controversies and failures in vaccine trials have already caused people to reject the vaccines, conspiracies have not helped either.
We asked millennials about their views on vaccines and if they would take them when it is available to us.
Here is what they said:
The efficacy of these vaccines is yet to be determined but looks like the millennials are not against getting vaccinated!
Image Credits: Google Images, Pictures provided by contributors
Sources: WHO, CDC, Times of India
Find The Blogger: @MNtweeting
This post is tagged under: COVID-19, vaccine, Pfizer, BioNtech, Moderna Bharat biotech, India, Covaxin, Covishield, 2020, 2021, millennials, opinion, scientists, conspiracies, theories, doctors, distribution, US, Uk
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