COVID 19 VACCINES: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

 For us to fully understand how COVID-19 vaccines can be helpful in the community let’s first define the meaning of a vaccine in general. According to the Vaccine Knowledge Project, A vaccine is a type of medicine that trains the body’s immune system so that it can fight a disease it has not come into contact with before. Vaccines are designed to prevent disease, rather than treat a disease once you have caught it. Vaccines safely expose the body to pathogens so that the immune system can make antibodies capable of binding to their antigens. This allows the immune system to fight off a specific disease-causing pathogen should it encounter that pathogen in the future.

According to the gavi.org website, there are four categories of vaccines in clinical trials: whole virus, protein subunit, viral vector and nucleic acid (RNA and DNA). Some of them try to smuggle the antigen into the body, others use the body’s own cells to make the viral antigen.

As stated by the World Health Organization website, COVID-19 vaccines can cause mild-to-moderate side effects, such as a low-grade fever or pain or redness at the injection site. These should go away on their own within a few days.

Since the vaccines that are currently administered and distributed in the Philippines requires 2 doses, bear in mind that the first have antigens – these are proteins that stimulate the production of antibodies – to the immune system for the first time; and the second dose acts as a booster, ensuring the immune system develops a memory response to fight off the virus if it encounters it again.

Because of the urgent need for a COVID-19 vaccine, initial clinical trials of vaccine candidates were performed with the shortest possible duration between doses. Therefore an interval of 21–28 days (3–4 weeks) between doses is recommended by WHO. Depending on the vaccine, the interval may be extended for up to 42 days – or even up to 12 weeks for some vaccines – on the basis of current evidence.

There are many COVID-19 vaccines being developed and produced by different manufacturers around the world. WHO recommends that a vaccine from the same manufacturer be used for both doses if you require two doses. This recommendation may be updated as further information becomes available.

Here’s a list of what you need to know about the vaccines thata re provided by the Department of Health

COVID-19 vaccines that are granted with Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are considered safe and effective based on the available evidence to date.

Vaccines are some of the most rigorously tested medical products today, and the COVID-19 vaccines are no different. The fact that the COVID-19 vaccines are available for use less than a year since the virus was discovered was not because corners were cut in the conduct of the clinical trials.

COVID-19 vaccines cannot make you sick with COVID-19.

With BIDA (Bawal walang mask, I-sanitize ang mga kamay, Dumistansya ng isang metrong layo, Alamin ang tamang impormasyon) steps and adherence to the minimum public health standards, vaccination is an important way to protect yourself from getting severe COVID-19.

Vaccines mimic the virus or bacteria that causes disease and triggers the body’s creation of antibodies. These antibodies will provide protection once a person is infected with the actual disease-causing virus or bacteria.

• Vaccines differ in their composition and how they trigger the immune response to create antibodies. These antibodies protect the body from microorganisms and serve as protection once a person gets infected with disease. Vaccines can be inactivated, weakened or killed copies of the whole or part of the virus or bacteria, or genetic product (like mRNA vaccines) that creates protein copies without causing disease

COVID-19 vaccine helps to protect you from symptomatic, and moderate and severe forms of COVID-19. Even if you’ve already received your first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, you can prevent the spread of the virus to your family and community through the following:

• Stay at home unless travel is essential

• Open windows and ensure proper ventilation and air circulation at home or your place of work

• Maintain a balanced and healthy diet, exercise, and avoid smoking and alcohol

• Monitor your health and call your Barangay Health Emergency Response Team if you have symptoms AND POSSIBLE EXPOSURE TO THE VIRUS.

Possible Side Effects after Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine

COVID-19 vaccination will protect you from the COVID-19 virus. As with any vaccine, you may experience adverse effects after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Common adverse effects include:

• Tenderness, pain, warmth, redness, itching or swelling on the arm where you got the injection

• Generally feeling unwell

• Feeling tired (fatigue)

• Chills or feeling feverish

• Headache

• Joint pain or muscle ache

These are signs that your body is building protection against COVID-19.

What to do if you experience these adverse effects after vaccination

These adverse effects will usually go away on their own within one to three days. If these do not go away after a few days or seem to be getting worse, consult a healthcare professional.

If you have pain at the injection site or fever, headaches or body aches after vaccination, you can choose to take acetaminophen or ibuprofen. These will help reduce the above symptoms. If there is swelling at the injection site, you can also use a cold compress.

What to do if you think you’re having a severe reaction to the vaccine

There is a rare chance that the COVID-19 could cause a severe reaction. You should go to your nearest hospital if you experience severe or unusual symptoms such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, swelling of the face, and tightening of the throat.

Things to remember after getting vaccinated:

Even if the vaccine protects from symptomatic and moderate to severe forms of COVID-19, you should still continue to protect yourself and your family by practicing the BIDA Behaviors:

• Wearing of Mask and Face Shield

• Wash/Sanitize Hands

• Avoid Crowded Places

• Ensure good ventilation at home or place of work

• Maintain 1 Meter Social Distancing

The Department also included a list of those who are and are not eligible to get the vaccine

YES, BUT WITH SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS

• With history of bleeding disorders or currently taking blood thinners

• With allergy to food, egg, or medicine

• With history of asthma

YES, BUT FOR RESCHEDULING:

• Currently diagnosed with COVID-19 or with symptoms of: fever / chills, fatigue, cough, colds, headache, sore throat, myalgia, loss of taste or smell, diarrhea, shortness of breath / difficulty breathing, and rashes

• Has history of exposure to confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case in the past 14 days

• Has received convalescent plasma or monoclonal antibodies for COVID-19 in the past 90 days

• Women in the first 3 months of pregnancy

• Has received any other vaccine in the past 14 days

• Has had attacks, been admitted or changed medications for their co-morbidities in the the past 3 months

• Hypertensive emergency or blood pressure > 180/120 with symptoms of possible organ damage

YES, BUT NEEDS CLEARANCE FROM ATTENDING PHYSICIAN / PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER

• With autoimmune disease

• With Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

• Cancer patients currently undergoing chemo/radio/immunotherapy

• Underwent transplant

• Currently taking steroid medications4

• Bedridden, in a vegetative state, or poor prognosis with life expectancy less than 6 months

NO

• Less than 18 years old

• Allergy to any vaccine components (e.g. polysorbate, PEG)

• Severe allergic reaction (e.g. anaphylaxis) to first dose of the vaccine

If you are eligible to take the vaccine, it is highly suggested to register and be updated for you to have the vaccine. You can find more information by just going to your local government or barangay for more questions or you can go to the website of the Department of Health to have verified and accurate information.

References

Asian Development Bank. (2021). $400 Million ADB Loan to Help the Philippines Purchase COVID-19 Vaccines [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.adb.org/news/400-million-adb-loan-help-philippines-purchase-covid-19-vaccines

Coronavirus vaccine: why it’s important to know what’s in the placebo. (2021). Retrieved 1 June 2021, from https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/coronavirus-vaccine-why-its-important-know-whats-placebo?gclid=Cj0KCQjw16KFBhCgARIsALB0g8KDWBCHJykXe4LpsQcPRLJE_pmFgGhmHne2YSySQ5Zi1N4wtduijvMaAo3HEALw_wcB

Department of Health website. (2021). Retrieved 1 June 2021, from https://doh.gov.ph/vaccines?gclid=Cj0KCQjw16KFBhCgARIsALB0g8LB2nPx9mdq7dd1zi85mUh2mnfcEPvUi6wZndhDDYK3ls10gBTgcVMaAm3eEALw_wcB

How do vaccines work?. (2020). Retrieved 1 June 2021, from https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/how-do-vaccines-work?gclid=Cj0KCQjw16KFBhCgARIsALB0g8IRqrhIuYtUnG37MvYrndlM0YSKWTIlPCubZCtiZLjWKoWDYc6-1AkaAgEqEALw_wcB

LIST: Where to register for your free COVID-19 shot. (2021). Retrieved 1 June 2021, from https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/3/29/LIST-COVID-19-vaccine-registration-LGUs.html

UNICEF. (2021). What you need to know about COVID-19 vaccines [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/what-you-need-to-know-covid-vaccine

Vigan City PH. (2021). 2nd Dose Vaccination of Healthcare Workers [Image]. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/vigancityph/photos/pcb.4205795516133236/4205788566133931/

: