Debunking myths related to Covid-19 vaccines

As Covid-19 disrupted lives and economies across the world, starting in early 2020, the world pinned its hope of overcoming this deadly virus by developing the right vaccine. Now, a year later, we have viable vaccines and are in a position to begin immunisation.

In fact, the government of India has already begun the process by establishing priority vaccine recipient groups (based on risk factors) and by launching the Covid Vaccine Intelligence Network (CO-WIN) mobile app that enables individuals to register themselves for vaccination.

Further, scores of NGOs, non-profit and civil society organisations are committed to the vaccine rollout. Case in point, Rotary Clubs have been actively involved in helping communities respond since the pandemic began, and are poised to help support the delivery and introduction of Covid-19 vaccines across the world.

Despite all preparations and achievements, myths and misinformation about Covid-19 stand in the way of the successful execution of the vaccine rollout. Let's take a quick look at some of the concerns that people may have and address them in the scientific spirit.

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Myth 1: Covid-19 is no worse than the flu

Fact: Not True. While Influenza (Flu) and Covid-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, they belong to entirely different virus families, with Covid-19 caused by a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) whereas flu is caused by influenza viruses.

Though the two infections have similar symptoms, including fever, cough and cold, fatigue, and body pains, the major difference between the two is that Covid-19 spreads more easily and causes more serious illnesses.

Also, the Covid-19 symptoms can take time to appear and people can be contagious for longer than the flu. In fact, a study in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal suggests that Covid-19 fatality rate is three times more than flu.

For more information on Covid-19/Flu, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/flu-vs-covid19.htm

Myth 2: Vaccine trials are being rushed

Vaccine development usually takes years before candidates are approved for use for the masses. However, pharmaceuticals are fast-tracking the development of coronavirus vaccine and maybe cutting huge corners in doing so.

Fact: Not True. Usually, vaccine trials last between five to 10 years. There are many reasons for this including the availability of trial participants as well as funding. Given that Covid-19 is quite contagious and transmissible, governments, health departments and pharmaceutical companies have been able to expedite vaccine development for Covid-19.

No stones are being left unturned and no shortcuts are being taken to develop and deliver these vaccines. Public health and safety remain the foremost consideration. Only after receiving government approval are vaccines allowed to roll out for the masses.

For more information on the Covid-19 vaccines under trails in India, please visit https://vaccine.icmr.org.in/covid-19-vaccine

Myth 3: Vaccine trials being halted means there are problems with the drug candidates

When vaccine trials are halted -- for instance, the AstraZeneca and Oxford University's Covid-19 vaccine trials halted due to a participant facing neurological problems -- rumour mills often go into overdrive, speculating that drug candidates are unsafe for humans.

Fact: Not True. In every vaccine trial, every effect needs to be noted, including all adverse events. The root cause analysis of every side-effect is examined in detail. Pausing a trial and restarting are safety mechanisms to protect the trial volunteers until each adverse effect is investigated and addressed.

Notably, adverse events such as accidental injuries or surgeries-that are not related to or caused by the study drug-must also be investigated.

For more information on the different phases of vaccine trials, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyNoE1QGIXQ&feature=youtu.be

Myth 4: A vaccine may adversely impact your immunity

Fact: Not True. Vaccines are developed using a safe and small portion of a weakened or inactive pathogen-bacteria, virus, fungi and parasites or even lab-made protein imitating the pathogen to prevent infection by that same virus or bacteria.

Once you are vaccinated, you are injected with a weakened form of a disease that tricks your immune system into thinking the body is being infected and begins to build antibodies to fight against the disease.

This way, if you are ever exposed to the actual pathogen, your immune system's defense mechanism automatically kicks in to fight the infection, resulting in either preventing the onset of a disease or reducing its severity.

Thus, by understanding how a vaccine works on one's immune system, it is clear that being vaccinated against one disease does not weaken one's immunity to fight other diseases.

For more information on how vaccines work, please visit, https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/conversations/downloads/vacsafe-understand-color-office.pdf

Myth 5: Those with strong immune systems cannot get infected

Fact: Not True. Immunity is relative to age (the very young and those over 65 years of age may broadly have less robust immune systems) as well as health conditions (i.e., the immunity of individuals battling cancer, HIV/AIDS, undergoing transplant surgery, etc. is different than the immunity of individuals who are not immunocompromised).

That said, there are steps individuals can take to help support their immune systems such as good sleep, nutritious food, clean water, low stress and ample exercise, but ultimately immunisations (forthcoming Covid-19 as well as routine) are recommended by the World Health Organization to prevent disease and to maintain one's health and wellness.

For more information on how to boost your immunity, please visit https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system

Myth 6: After getting the vaccination, I don't have to wear a mask or follow social distancing guidelines

Fact: Not True. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has mandated preventive measures such as wearing masks and maintaining physical distance till the Covid-19 vaccine is administered to all. Moreover, it is not yet known for how long the vaccine-derived immunity will last, underscoring the importance of following Covid-19 Appropriate Behaviour.

For more information relating to the post-vaccination safety norms, please visit the FAQ section in
https://static.mygov.in/rest/s3fs-public/mygov_160985012951307401.pdf

Myth 7: Covid-19 vaccine would give you Covid-19

Fact: Not True. There is ZERO chance of this. All the vaccines being developed today against Covid-19 do not coronavirus. ((see myth 4 to understand how a vaccine is developed). However, we need to consider the fact that it takes a couple of weeks post-vaccination for the body to build its immunity against the virus.

And therefore, it is possible that a person could get infected just before or after being vaccinated so we must continue to follow safety precautions such as wearing masks, washing hands and maintaining social distance.

For more information on how Covid-19 vaccines work, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFjIVIIcCvc

Myth 8: I don't have to get vaccinated if there is herd immunity against Covid-19

Fact: Not True. Herd immunity is when most of the population becomes immune to a disease, providing indirect protection to those not immune. There are two primary ways to achieve immunity -- either through vaccination or by getting and recovering from the infection.

The second route is not very advisable in the case of Covid-19 as the death rate is exceedingly high, especially among the vulnerable sections such as the elderly or those with compromised immune systems.

Further, as the disease is very infectious, it has already overwhelmed the healthcare systems of more than one country. Also, the disease strain has shown signs of mutation, which means there is no guarantee of immunity even if you had the infection.

To know more about herd immunity, please visit https://www.jhsph.edu/covid-19/articles/achieving-herd-immunity-with-covid19.html#:~:text=When%20most%20of%20a%20population,not%20immune%20to%20the%20disease

Myth 9: A vaccine is an answer to the end of coronavirus

Fact: Not True. While vaccines have played an important part in eliminating smallpox and reducing the incidence of polio by more than 99.9%, success did not come overnight. So, it is highly presumptuous to believe that a vaccine will completely eradicate the coronavirus immediately.

Vaccine delivery and adoption take time, particularly with brand new vaccines. Moreover, as we have seen that the virus has the potential to mutate, the long-term efficacy of any particular coronavirus vaccine is unknown. For now, we must wait, watch, and learn, even as we begin to administer the first doses of coronavirus vaccines.

For more information relating to the same, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/vaccine-benefits.html

As the world races towards finding the most efficient Covid-19 vaccines, we must not fall victim to misinformed notions or vaccine myths. Rather, our best collective action is to have faith in science and support the scientists, researchers, clinicians, and the global medical community working around the clock to fight against this deadly virus.

- Article by Dr Pavithra Venkatagopalan, PhD, Microbiology and Coronavirus Studies and Membership Chair of Rotary Club of Madras Next-Gen

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