Zooming Covid-19 Vaccination
By: Thenusan Santhirakumar
Tags: Corona Vaccine, Covid 19, Pandemic, Corona, Coronavirus

Coronavirus Vaccination

Zooming Covid-19 Vaccination

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Developing immunity against a specific infection without having it, is the main principle of vaccination. Even though different types of mechanisms used in the vaccine production, through vaccination the result is that our body is left with the immunity against the specific infection as memory, that will remember how to fight against the virus in future. Corona virus infection is an ongoing pandemic, which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus. It affects the whole world and the only possible way to get rid of this seems to be the invention of a vaccine. The process of vaccine development for a particular disorder typically takes at least 15- 20years. However, in this pandemic situation, increased demand for a vaccine causes acceleration and release of vaccines without trial on large. Adverse effects of many vaccines are still in question, and further studies are going on it as post-marketing surveillance.

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After the release of the genetic sequence of the COVID 19 virus on 11 January 2020, the rapid emergence of research for vaccine productions among pharmaceutical companies and scientist followed. At this point, some type of vaccine is approved for full use, while others are on their clinical trials globally. As of 8/04/2021, World Health Organization said that the following vaccines have met their necessary criteria for efficacy and safety against COVID 19 infection.

· AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine

· Johnson and Johnson

· Moderna

· Pfizer/BionTech

FDA (Food and Drug Administration) granted permission for 3 COVID-19 vaccines. Two of them are mRNA vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna), whereas the other one is a viral vector vaccine (Johnson & Johnson).

Following are the vaccine technologies used in the formation of these vaccines against the COVID-19 virus.

mRNA vaccines

These vaccine materials will make our cells produce a harmless protein that is specific for the COVID-19 virus after entering our body. Our body’s immune system recognizes these proteins and antibodies against this specific protein will form. These antibodies will protect us from future infection of the COVID-19 virus. Examples are Pfizer- BioNTech and Moderna. These vaccines can be developed on a low, medium manufacturing scale with fast development speed. As it is made up of mRNA, the vaccine must be maintained in cold storage.

The Pfizer vaccine was developed in the collaboration of pharmaceutical companies of Germany and the USA. Dosage is indicated as 0.3 mL ×2 doses administered 3 weeks apart. Severe allergic reactions including anaphylaxis, gastrointestinal effects such as diarrhoea, and vomiting, and pain in extremity are some adverse effect of it.

Moderna COVID-19 vaccine was developed by the USA and the dosage of it is 0.5mL IM ×2 doses administered 1 month apart. Injection site pain, fatigue, allergic reactions, castrointestinal side effects, arthralgia are some adverse effects of it.

Protein subunit vaccines

They contain proteins specific to the COVID-19 virus. Therefore, once vaccinated, our body will be protected from the virus by antibodies. Example -Novavax. These vaccines are in late phase 3 clinical trials and pending FDA approval. Novavax was developed by an American pharmaceutical company.

Inactivated virus / DNA vaccines

These contain inactivated version of the COVID-19 virus. Genetic materials in the vaccine will make our cells produce proteins that are specific for the COVID-19 virus after entering into our body. Our bodies immune system recognizes these proteins and antibodies against these specific proteins will form. These antibodies will protect us from future infection of the COVID-19 virus. Example- Inovio

Viral vector vaccines

Here a genetically modified harmless virus (vector), which carries the genetic material of the COVID-19 virus will be injected into our bodies. This will produce harmless protein specific to the COVID-19 virus in our body to create immunity. Examples are AstraZeneca; Oxford University, Johnson & Johnson.

AstraZeneca from London with the recommended dosage of 0.5mL IM ×2 doses administered 8–12 weeks apart. Painful, heavy feeling, muscle ache, allergic reactions are some of its adverse effects. COVID SHIELD from India has similar technology to it!

Johnson & Johnson from the USA is a single dose vaccine of 0.5 mL IM. Thrombosis embolic events, fatigue, allergic reactions, nausea are some adverse effects of it.

Even though there are various concerns and myths among the public about vaccination, it is an important mechanism to end the pandemic. Recently the USA white house said there is no need to wear the mask for fully vaccinated people in their country. Let’s join our hands and fight against this pandemic by getting the vaccination.

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I believe that you understood the topic discussed today. If you have any concerns or any clarifications, don’t hesitate to contact me through the response section. Thank you for spending your precious time reading this article. Follow me for more interesting articles in near future.

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