Colonel Shiv Choudhary (Retd)
A year has gone past with the deadly Covid19 virus having spread to 215 countries in the six continents infecting over 128 millions, 72.8 millions recoveries and over 2.8 million deaths as on 31 Mar 2021. This includes India with near 12,149,335 million cases of infection, 162,500 deaths and 11,434,310 million recoveries. Despite all possible precautions and protocols, the billions of people world over continue to grapple with this deadly virus. World has never seen such a brutal virus.
The world waited for effective and safe vaccines with baited breath to battle the deadly virus and few vaccines did come surpassing all records of time, research and trails with quick delivery all over. Return to normalcy is directly related to an efficient, safe and fast vaccination of about 80% of 7.8 billion world population. Towards this, a massive and meticulously planned global vaccination programme is in vogue.
It seems that the loud cry for the fastest arrival of vaccines is facing hurdles due to numerous myths floating all over the world leading to confusion, indecisiveness and ultimate hesitancy in taking much needed vaccines as warranted. The major myths noticed are “unsafe vaccines, side effects, short circuited research, ineffective protection, everyone does not need, unavoidable new normal, threat of new variants, vaccine containing virus, fear of impregnany, infertility and DNA change, tracking chip, preference of local medicines, automatic cure and a disease of rich class.
These prevailing rumors and myths are of serious concern for everyone. Such myths must be busted responsibly for much needed wider acceptability of the vaccines developed by dedicated medical research fraternity. All vaccines producers have assured that no scientific process; testing and clinical trials to examine safety and efficiency were either rushed through or compromised. All existing scientific advances, knowledge and formulas were extensively used to find vaccine for Covid19 quickly. Everyone must trust that all vaccines are absolutely safe and effective.
Hesitancy has been prevalent all over the globe. Surprisingly, with the ongoing vaccination, the hesitancy amongst American has climbed down from initial near 49% to 29% recently. 70 % indecisiveness expressed by Indian in Jan has changed to 80% willingness by Mar end. Even hesitancy of Canadian citizens descended from earlier 38 % to 16 % in Mar. Hongkong and few Asian countries continue to be fence sitter due to varying reasons. Whatever, may be the factors, our best bet is centered in encountering the multilayered myths for demonizing the miracle vaccines.
Vaccination is one of the most successful public health interventions. Adequate vaccine coverage is especially critical in the age of growing antimicrobial resistance and global travel. The WHO defines vaccine hesitancy as a “delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite availability of vaccination services. Vaccine hesitancy is threatening the historical achievements made in reducing the burden of infectious diseases, which have plagued humanity for centuries. A collaborative effort between pediatricians, family doctors, parents, public health officials, governments, the technology sector, media and civil society must dispel all myths, controversies and misinformation.
People are more apt at viewing websites and social media networks which are predominantly inaccurate or negative. Decision making around vaccination entails a complex mix of cultural, psychosocial, spiritual, political, and cognitive factors. Reasons for vaccine hesitancy fit into lack of confidence, compliance and convenience. It is pointless to sit on the fence hearing unfunded stories.
Vaccine hesitancy is putting progress against covid-19 at risk. If the world is to tame the virus, the myths will need to be fought.
Unfortunate ones have borne the brunt of the pandemic and they would appreciate the true value of a vaccine. Imagine a situation where a country has more vaccines than it has people who want to get a shot. In some states, the shift from scarcity to abundance is already here. Even if we reach everyone who wants a vaccine, it still won’t be enough to reach the threshold for dramatically reducing the spread of the virus. Scientists say that will take around 80% of the population to be vaccinated.
All vaccines are found to be exceedingly safe, with sparingly very mild and routine side effects. These side effects show that your immune system is mounting a response, and they are to be expected. Indeed, these symptoms are not dangerous by any stretch of imagination. By Mar1, 50 million American citizens have taken the first jab and more than 90% Israelis of 60 years and over have been vaccinated. By end Mar, six crore Indian have taken jabs too. Cases of not just hospitalization but even asymptomatic infections have plummeted. Low viral swabbing loads in the nose post vaccination has also been found.
New variants are frightening the world with the uninterrupted news of mutation and new unidentified variants including the so called dangerous UK variant. The concern is not misplaced but the immunologists maintain that humans would always have the upper hand. The new found vaccines are highly protective against the original virus, 2000 other strains and the so-called deadly UK variant. Whatever one may assume, vaccines will always do good to your health in impacting the disease severity. Vaccination controls the transmission rate, so would be the control over infection, variants and millions of walking incubators. Surveillance system and scientists are on high alert to seize and quickly alter the existing vaccine to attack new viruses.
There is a belief in certain quarters “that since new normal is going to be the way of life, why get vaccinated or recovered people don’t require any vaccine”. It is like saying, one day everyone has to die, why visit a Dr and take medicine. And “would you feel comfortable driving a car where there’s a 90% chance that the brakes work”. In real life, the car should go to shop. Yes, the immunity of recovered cases may be comparatively little more post both doses. It is often difficult to know if one really had the Covid19 infection earlier. People were treated more for symptoms without test and some of the tests aren’t always 100% accurate. We must understand that vaccination is going to take away transmission assuring far more safety and immunity. One may mingle, eat and dance with any vaccinated crowd.
Mild and momentarily reactions one confronts or hears within minutes or few hours of taking a vaccine are common parts of any immunizing process. If we’re not seeing any serious side effects now, it will surely be safe down the road. There’s no live virus in the vaccines, so they can’t infect anyone. One might have side effects like a headache or chills, but that is because the body is creating an immune response, not because one has infection.”
There is absolutely no data from the clinical trials or any theoretical reason as to why the vaccines could cause rumored infertility, change in DNA or existence of an inbuilt tracker. Factually, the immunologists claim that vaccine is a must for a breast feeding and pregnant woman to avoid premature labor or miscarriage. A microchip within syringe label only helps for dose originality and is not injected. People who have underlying conditions like diabetes and heart disease or suppressed immune system like from cancer treatment or such ailments, are surely at higher risk of getting complications. It is thus more incumbent that all such cases must get vaccinated. The vaccine will only add to the health.
With the current rate of hesitancy, reaching the intended threshold will require massive efforts to understand why the ‘maybes’ are hesitant and how their minds might be changed. Since the launch of the vaccine in India on 16 Jan, a total of 6 crore Indian have been vaccinated with one or both doses. An assumed figure of only 120 crore needing two doses with 45 days gap at current pace will take us years. Government needs to promptly increase pace, facilities and supply. The impression of interruption in supply leading to sudden increase of gaps between two doses must be dispelled quickly. Virus infection will continue to occur even as everyone gets vaccinated. The goal is not complete eradication, but to co-exit at the tolerable level of risk of virus and help economy bounce back, fearless travel and normalcy. People must distinguish difference between scientific facts and baseless myths.
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