New Delhi, 25th June,
We are soon going to have the world’s first DNA-plasmid vaccine by Zydus Cadilla which has been Made in India. The other vaccine that we can expect soon is Biological E – a protein sub-unit vaccine, informs Dr. Narendra Kumar Arora, Chairman of COVID-19 Working Group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI). He further informs that the trials of these vaccines have been quite encouraging. “We are hopeful that this vaccine will be available by September. The Indian m-RNA vaccine which can be stored at temperature 2 - 8 Degree Celsius should also be available by September. Two other vaccines namely Novavax by Serum Institute of India and Johnson & Johnson may also be expected soon. By the third week of July, the production capacity of Bharat Biotech and SII are going to be increased phenomenally. This will enhance the vaccine supply in the country. By August, we expect to procure 30-35 crore doses in a month”. Dr. Arora says that this will enable us to vaccinate one crore persons in a day.
The Chairperson spoke on these and various other facets of
India’s COVID-19 vaccination drive, in an interview to Department of Science
and Technology’s OTT - India Science Channel.
How effective are the new vaccines going to be?
When we say a certain vaccine is 80% effective, it means that
vaccine reduces the chances of COVID-19 disease by 80%. There is a
difference between infection and disease. If a person has contracted COVID
infection but is asymptomatic, this person only has an infection. However, if
the person has symptoms due to the infection, this person has COVID disease.
All vaccines in the world prevent COVID disease. There is very little chance of
severe disease after vaccination while the chances of death after vaccination
are negligible. If the efficacy of a vaccine is 80%, then 20% of the vaccinated
people may contract mild COVID.
The vaccines available in India are capable of reducing the
spread of the Corona Virus. If 60%-70% people are vaccinated, the spread of the
virus be checked.
The Government started the COVID immunization drive by
vaccinating the elderly, in order to vaccinate the most vulnerable population
first and thus reduce casualty and the burden on our health services.
There is a lot of mis-information regarding the COVID vaccine.
Could you please clarify?
Recently, I travelled to Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and spoke to
people in both urban and rural areas in these states to understand issues of
vaccine hesitancy. Many people mostly from rural areas do not take COVID
seriously and confuse it with normal fever. People need to understand
that COVID may be mild in many cases. But when it takes a severe form, it may
become a financial burden and may also lead to loss of life.
It is very encouraging that we can protect ourselves from COVID
through vaccination. We must all firmly believe that COVID-19 vaccines
available in India are completely safe. I assure every one that all the vaccines
have undergone rigorous tests, including clinical trials that are globally
recognized.
As far as side-effects are concerned, all vaccines have mild
side-effects. This includes mild fever, fatigue, pain in the injection site,
etc. for a day or two. It does not cause any serious side-effects.
When children get their regular vaccines, even they show certain
side-effects like fever, swelling etc. The elders in the family know that the
vaccine is good for the child despite side-effects. Similarly, it is time for
the elders to understand that the COVID vaccine is important for our family and
our society. Hence, mild side- effects should not deter us.
There are rumours that if a person does not experience fever
after getting vaccinated, then the vaccination is not working. How true is
that?
Most people do not face any side-effect after COVID vaccination
but it does not mean that vaccines are not efficient. Only 20% - 30% people are
going to experience fever after vaccination. Some people may get fever after
first dose and not have any fever after second dose and vice-versa. It varies
from person to person and it is highly unpredictable.
Some cases have been reported where people got the COVID-19
infection after taking both the vaccines. So, some people are questioning the
effectiveness of the vaccines.
Infection may occur even after taking both the doses of vaccine.
But, in such cases, the disease will certainly be mild and the chances of a
serious illness practically become nil. Further, just to avoid such an
occurrence, people are being told to follow COVID Appropriate Behaviour also
after vaccination. People can transmit the virus, which means that the virus
may pass through you to family members and others. Had the vaccination of
people aged above 45 years not been done, then death rates and burden on
hospitals would have been unimaginable. Now, that the second wave is on the
downslide, credit for it goes to vaccination.
Till when do antibodies last in the body? Do we need to take a
booster dose after some time?
After vaccination, the immunity that has been developed can
obviously be ascertained by the development of antibodies which can be visible
and be measured. Apart from this, an invisible immunity is also developed. It
is known as T-Cells which possess memory power. Henceforth whenever this virus
will try to enter, the entire body becomes alert and starts to act against it.
Thus, having antibody is not the only sign of our body’s immunity power. Hence,
there is no need to do antibody tests after vaccination, get worried and lose
sleep over it.
Secondly, COVID-19 is a new disease which surfaced just one and
a half years ago and it has just been 6 months since when vaccines are being
given. But it seems that, like all other vaccines, immunity will last for at
least six months to a year. With the passage of time, our understanding of
COVID-19 will improve. Moreover, certain factors like T-Cells cannot be
measured. It has to be seen as to till how long after vaccination people can be
saved from serious illness and mortality. But, for now, all vaccinated
individuals will remain safe for six months to a year.
Once we have taken a particular company’s vaccine, do we have to
repeat that particular vaccine only? If we have to take booster doses in the future,
then also, should we have the same company’s vaccine?
Instead of companies, let us talk about the platforms. It never
has happened before in human history that different processes and platforms
have been used to develop vaccines for the same disease. Since the
manufacturing processes are different for these vaccines, their effect on body
will also not be the same. The process of taking different types of vaccine in
two doses, or again a different vaccine later in a booster dose (if required),
is called interchangeability. Whether this can be done is an important
scientific question. Steps are being taken to find an answer to it. We are one
of those rare countries where different types of COVID-19 vaccines are being
given. This sort of interchangeability can be accepted or recognized only for
three reasons: 1) It increases or betters immune power, 2) It eases the program
of vaccine delivery; 3) Safety is ensured. But this interchangeability should
not be propelled by the reason of scarcity of vaccines as vaccination is purely
a scientific phenomenon.
Research on mix and match of vaccines is being carried out in
some foreign countries. Is India also doing any such research?
This sort of research is necessary and efforts are being taken
to start a few such researches in India soon. It may be started within a few
weeks.
Are studies being carried out on vaccination of children? By
when can we expect to have a vaccine for children?
Covaxin trials have been started on children aged between 2 – 18
years. Trials on children are being done in many centres across the
country. We should be getting the results by September to October this year.
Children may catch the infection, but they do not get seriously ill. However,
children may become a transmitter for the virus. Hence, children also should be
vaccinated.
Q) Do vaccines cause infertility?
When the polio vaccine came and was being administered in India
and other parts of the world, this sort of a rumour had spread at that time
too. At that time, a misinformation was created that children who are getting
polio vaccine may face infertility in the future. This sort of wrong
information is spread by the anti-vaccine lobby. We should know that all
vaccines go through intense scientific researches. None of the vaccines have
this sort of a side-effect. I would like to fully assure everyone that this
sort of propaganda only misguides people. Our main intention is to save
ourselves, family and society from corona virus. So, everyone must come forward
and get vaccinated.
Watch the full interview at this link: https://www.indiascience.in/videos/corona-ko-harana-hai-vaccination-special-with-dr-n-dot-k-arora-chairman-covid-19-working-group-of-ntagi-g