FAQ about the COVID 19 Vaccine Part 3

 1. Who is not a candidate for the vaccine?

Dr. Winsome Cristie

Special populations are prioritised to be first in line for population wide vaccination.  This describes high-risk targeting where persons who are at risk for infections, complications or death from the Covid-19 virus are  identified and prioritised for early vaccination (APA, 2021).These include the elderly (75 years and older), front line health care and essential workers and patients with pre-existing comorbidities. This will take place in phases until all or majority of the population is vaccinated.  On the other hand, not everyone is a candidate for receiving the coronavirus vaccine.  

The CDC established that the following groups of people are not considered candidates for receiving Covid-19 vaccines:

• Persons with a known history of a severe allergic reaction to any components of the vaccine (from the ingredients listed on patient leaflet). 
• Persons who experienced severe allergic reactions (including anaphylactic reactions) after a previous dose of an mRNA Covid-19 vaccine or any of its components. 
• Persons with immediate allergic reactions of any severity to polysorbate (because of potential cross sensitivity with the vaccine ingredient polyethylene glycol (PEG).  

Additionally, infectious disease specialist at the University of California in Los Angeles, Deborah Lehman, (Single Sign On [Internet], 2021)

Nathine Morgan

advises that patients with a current active infection (symptomatic) should refrain from getting the vaccine until they have fully recovered. She explained that this is because getting the vaccine while being sick will not boost the immune system against the current  infection.  

2. Do the current vaccines protect against the new variants?

Viruses are constantly mutating and so new variants of the coronavirus are expected to emerge. The United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil were among the first to identify a different strain of the virus present in their region.   The Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines were tested before the emergence of the new variants in Britain, South Africa, and Brazil. As a result, it is unclear as to  how well these vaccines will work against the mutated strains, but nevertheless the CDC reports that there may be come degree of coverage. The Johnson & Johnson  vaccine however, that was approved on February 27, 2021 for emergency use authorization by the FDA, was  tested  in clinical trials during the emergence of the new variants in South Africa at which it was shown to provide 66% coverage in preventing symptomatic Covid-19 infection (STAT, 2021).  Still, more and more variants are emerging and vaccine manufacturers are looking into the option of creating booster shots to improve protection against the new variants (CDC, 2021).  

3. Am I immune to COVID after getting the Vaccine?

Immunity may be described as the ability for the body to resist a particular disease innately  or from previous exposure that allows for acquired antibodies (Merriam Webster, 2021). The Centre of Disease Control reported that since it takes a few weeks after vaccination for the body to build immunity against the coronavirus, it is possible for someone to become infected with the virus  just after vaccination. This is because the vaccine was not allowed enough time to provide protection through triggering immune responses for antibody production.  It therefore means that people who have been vaccinated are still at risk for getting the disease, especially with emerging new variants of the disease.  Therefore, it is recommended that current protocols such as mask wearing, sanitization, social distancing, mandatory isolation during acute illnesses and good hygiene is maintained even after vaccination.  

4. Is the vaccine a cure for the COVID 19 virus?

The Covid-19 vaccine is not a cure for the virus but rather an aid that allows for the development of immunity against the virus by helping the body to develop antibodies.  This lowers the risk of  having serious complications associated with the virus.  Viruses are not easily eradicated or “cured” because of their difference in makeup and function compared to other pathogens such as bacteria and fungi.  In fact, viruses are non-living and are inert until they come into contact with a host cell (Avril, 2020).   Within the cell, viruses are able to replicate causing  cell damage and illnesses.   

5. How many doses of the vaccine should I get?

The number of doses of the vaccine required to achieve effective immunity against the coronavirus varies based on the manufacturer and the formulation.  The Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines require two doses, a priming dose, followed by a booster shot.  Pfizer recommends two doses separated by an interval of 21 days, while the CDC recommends that the Moderna doses are separated by a period of is 28 days. 

The recommended dosage for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is two doses given intramuscularly with an interval of 8-12 weeks (WHO, 2020).  

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a single-dose vaccine.  However, the company has began  testing a two-dose regimen (two doses to be given eight weeks apart).  This data is expected to be released later this year, (Ferran, 2021).  

Authors:

Dr. Winsome B. Christie

Clinical Pharmacist/Integrative

Nathine Morgan  (BPharm candidate)

 March 7, 2021