Why we should vaccinate against Covid |11 January 2021
With the start of the vaccination campaign in the country a large number of Seychellois are expected to get vaccinated in the coming weeks. However, there are many who are still sceptical about the efficiency of the vaccines.
Facebook scientists have been adamant against the vaccine since it was announced by the health authority a couple of weeks ago, and they will be more vocal in the coming weeks.
One common narrative centres on the vaccine development process. Some people assert that the vaccine was developed too quickly to be safe.
But doctors, scientists and researchers say that’s not true. They had been working on a vaccine for similar viruses for years and years, so when Covid-19 hit, they knew what worked and what didn’t. The lack of financial and bureaucratic barriers also sped up the process.
Other myths focus on the vaccine not being necessary. People have claimed falsely that “a better way of fighting the virus is through natural immune responses”.
In reality, that’s not true. Experts don’t know how long natural immunity lasts after recovering from Covid-19. Immunity varies from person to person, and some people have even contracted the virus twice.
Others make baseless claims about the ingredients of the vaccine and mRNA, saying that “vaccines can alter your DNA. This is false as the vaccines are made of “messenger” RNA. This component never enters the nucleus of the cell, where the DNA is kept, so it does not have the capability to mutate the DNA in any way.
Why should I take the vaccine?
Getting vaccinated is one of many steps you can take to protect yourself and others from Covid-19. Protection from Covid-19 is critically important because for some people, the virus can cause severe illness or death.
Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools available. Vaccines work with your immune system so your body will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed. Other steps, like masks and social distancing, help reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others.
President Wavel Ramkalawan has affirmed in his statement that by taking this vaccine it will not only help combat the virus but also rebuild our economy.
What does the vaccine do?
The Covid-19 vaccines help our bodies develop immunity to the virus that causes Covid-19 without us having to get the illness.
Different types of vaccines work in different ways to offer protection, but with all types of vaccines, the body is left with a supply “memory” of T-Cells as well as B-Cells that will remember how to fight that virus in the future.
How long will it take to develop immunity?
It typically takes a few weeks for the body to produce T-Cells and B-cells after vaccination. Therefore, it is possible that a person could be infected with the Covid-19 virus just before or just after vaccination and then get sick because the vaccine did not have enough time to provide protection so it is important for people to keep practicing the safety measures set by the health department.
What are the possible side effects?
Sometimes after vaccination, the process of building immunity can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are normal and are a sign that the body is building immunity.
How many times will I have to take the vaccine?
Most Covid-19 vaccines require more than one shot. The first shot starts building protection. A second shot a few weeks later is needed to get the most protection the vaccine has to offer.
Compiled by Christophe Zialor