After the announcement of vaccination drives in various countries, we have seen many rumours about vaccines circulating online. These rumors have impacted the mindset of many individuals to the extent that they decide not to take the vaccine or end up believing false myths about it. Still many others fail to get vaccinated due to the lack of awareness of general information. Thus it is vital that we discuss the history, science and common misconceptions related to the COVID-19 vaccines.
The COVID-19 vaccine is a vaccine intended to immunize the people against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2(SARS-CoV-2) or the virus behind the cause of Coronavirus disease-2019(COVID-19). In a remarkable achievement of medical science, we went from identifying a new pathogen to discovering an immune response against it to developing and testing a safe and effective vaccine for it in less than 12 months. Previously, the fastest vaccine to go from development to deployment was the mumps vaccine in the 1960s, which took about four years. Since early 2020 we have seen a historic united front of countries, governments, companies, organizations, researchers and more for the development of COVID-19 vaccine candidates and potentially vaccines.
Four vaccine candidates entered the phase of human trials by March 2020. By April 2020, almost 80 companies and institutes of 19 countries were working on trials and development of vaccines. In the early months of June-August, China and Russia gave restricted approval to the vaccine followed by other countries in the subsequent months. Currently(as of 15th June, 2021) there are a total of 287 vaccine candidates(potential vaccines) with 102 vaccines in the clinical phase of development and 185 in the preclinical phase. According to reports the efficiency rates are 95% for the Pfizer–BioNTech, 94% for the Moderna–NIH, 91% for the Gamaleya, 67% for the J&J, and 67% for the AstraZeneca–Oxford vaccines.
After the roll out of the vaccines for the general public, St. Maarten reportedly had the lowest vaccination rates in comparison to other Dutch Carribean Islands[image at bottom]. As of 10 June, 2021, a total of only 34,039 vaccine doses have been administered. Globally, the vaccination rates are 20.9%.These low rates and low turnouts of individuals may be a product of feeding into the misconceptions and myths circulating around the media. Although it is advised for persons to take initiative and carry out their own research, this isn't always the case. As a result, individuals consume misinformation provided by the media or through word of mouth as it is easier to access. However, for everyone's health and safety, it is essential to see past these misconceptions and understand the science behind it.
Misconception: The vaccines are not safe since they were developed in a short period of time.
Fact: The COVID-19 vaccines themselves were developed quickly but the trial phase which examines safety and efficacy were not rushed at all. In other words, the right vaccine to test was found quickly but the process of testing and trial took the appropriate amount of time. The COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna were created with a method that has been in development for years, so the companies could start the vaccine development process early in the pandemic. China had also isolated and shared genetic information about COVID-19 promptly, so scientists could start working on vaccines. Some types of COVID-19 vaccines were created using messenger RNA (mRNA), which allows a faster approach than the traditional way that vaccines are made.
Vaccine projects also had plenty of resources, as governments invested in research and/or paid for vaccines in advance. Thus it’s safety has not been compromised. In fact, Pfizer–BioNTech reports an efficacy of up to 95%.
Misconception: Taking the vaccine may lead to you getting COVID-19.
Fact: You cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine since it doesn’t contain a live virus. Basically, the vaccines make our bodies produce one single protein from the virus—the protein that infects our cells. Through the making of this protein, the infection is prevented. You might have side effects like a headache or chills, but that’s because your body is creating an immune response, not because you have an infection.
Misconception: The COVID-19 vaccines alter your DNA.
Fact:Pfizer and Moderna use messenger RNA to give you protection from COVID-19. The messenger RNA from two of the first types of COVID-19 vaccines does enter cells, but not the nucleus of the cells where DNA resides. The mRNA does its job to cause the cell to make protein to stimulate the immune system, and then it quickly breaks down — without affecting your DNA.
Misconception: If you have already had the COVID-19, you do not need the vaccine.
Fact: People who have gotten sick with COVID-19 may still benefit from getting vaccinated. Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that re-infection with COVID-19 is possible, people may be advised to get a COVID-19 vaccine even if they have been sick with COVID-19 before.
There is not enough information currently available to say if or for how long people are protected from getting COVID-19 after they have had it (natural immunity). Early evidence suggests natural immunity from COVID-19 may not last very long, but more studies are needed to better understand this. Several subjects in the Pfizer trial who were previously infected got vaccinated without ill effects. Some scientists believe the vaccine offers better protection for coronavirus than natural infection.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe. They were developed using technology that had existed since decades. They are not experimental as the vaccines being administered currently have already passed the phase of clinical trials and have proved themselves safe and effective. Thus it is vital that we support the combined efforts of governments, organizations, researchers and more by getting ourselves vaccinated. These are tough times where we can only recover from grave losses and the large-scale devastation through unity, support and cooperation. By getting vaccinated we can make our contribution to the goals of large scale immunization and protect our own safety.
References:
Kelen, Gabor David, and Lisa Lockerd Maragakis. “COVID-19 Vaccines: Myth Versus Fact.” Johns Hopkins Medicine, 14 May 2021, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccines-myth-versus-fact.
Cummingham, Dennis. “10 Myths About The COVID-19 Vaccine That Aren't True.” Henry Ford LiveWell, 21 Dec. 2020, www.henryford.com/blog/2020/12/vaccine-myths.
“Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17 June 2021, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html.
“Sint Maarten: WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard With Vaccination Data.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 10 June 2021, covid19.who.int/region/amro/country/sx.
COVID-19 Vaccine Efficacy and Effectiveness—the Elephant (Not) in the Room, 20 Apr. 2021, www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(21)00069-0/fulltext.
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