We
all have been eagerly waiting to get the vaccine to end the mayhem created by
the corona virus. We would all like to believe that vaccination is the only way
to stop the disease from spreading. Is that completely true, though?
As
per the experts, vaccination doesn't mean the end of the virus. Vaccination
solely guards your body against the dangerous effects of the virus. The
infection can occur at any time, vaccination just helps in warding off the
serious issues that it might trigger. People who have been vaccinated also need
to abide by all safety measures to prevent contracting the virus. These people
can even transmit the virus to others.
What
this means is that for a vaccination to declare that is works, all it has to do
is to prevent you from getting a severe infection. It may not prevent you from
actually getting the virus in the future, although there are ongoing studies to
prove just that.
In
the next few months, Pfizer and Moderna are expected to release data that
should indicate how often vaccinated people become infected by the virus, even
if they have no symptoms. The companies have been testing participants in their
vaccine trials for antibodies to a protein called N that is part of the corona virus
but not part of the vaccine. Finding those antibodies would mean that a
vaccinated person has been infected by the virus.
So what exactly did they study when the made the vaccine?
The
Pfizer and Moderna trials tracked only how many vaccinated people became sick
with Covid-19. The study essentially took 2 groups and put them into a placebo
group and a vaccine group and studied the risk of people getting sick with the
corona virus without actually studying if the vaccine would prevent the
infection in the first place.
Having
said that, the vaccine will offer some protection from getting the virus. The
way it works is this. The vaccine provokes the immune system of the receiver to
make antibodies against the virus. Once the antibodies are formed, the immune
system is primed to attack anything that remotely resembles the corona virus so
that if you do get exposed and the virus does enter your system, it should be
attacked by the antibodies.
How
does this differ from immunity obtained after being infected?
In
most respiratory infections, including the new corona virus, the nose is the
main port of entry. The virus rapidly multiplies there, jolting the immune
system to produce a type of antibodies that are specific to mucosa, the moist
tissue lining the nose, mouth, lungs and stomach. If the same person is exposed
to the virus a second time, those antibodies, as well as immune cells that
remember the virus, rapidly shut down the virus in the nose itself before it
gets a chance to take hold elsewhere in the body.
Vaccinated
people may still harbour the virus in their nose and throat and these people
who may not develop any symptoms could possibly be transmitting the virus
without ever knowing it. It would only depend on whether the virus can
replicate faster, or the immune system can control it faster.
What
are breakthrough cases?
Breakthrough
cases are those cases that test positive even after receiving the vaccine and
can be either symptomatic or asymptomatic. This might occur in those people
whose bodies cannot produce a robust reaction to a vaccine. Breakthrough
infections are generally mild and do not require hospitalizations. Some people
may have no symptoms at all and may be discovered only through testing. Absence
of symptoms actually means that the vaccine is doing exactly what it is
supposed to do: prevent people from getting sick, even if it does not fully
block the virus from infecting them. If vaccinated people become silent
spreaders of the virus, they may keep it circulating in their communities,
putting unvaccinated people at risk.
Why
are vaccinated people are testing positive for the virus?
-
They are not following the precautionary measures such as wearing masks in
public, sanitizing hands, maintaining social distancing and ignoring the other
safety protocols as advised by the health ministry
-
Not following the after vaccination rules as told by the doctors (eg alcohol
consumption, taking immunosuppressive drugs)
-
Not getting the second dose on time or not getting the second dose at all
-
Barrier in immunity (may not mount a good enough immune response)
As of now, the only way to be absolutely sure of not getting the infection is to continue to follow strict hygiene measures in terms of hand washing and sanitizing, respiratory hygiene including wearing a mask at all times when outside your safe zone or in presence of strangers, covering your mouth and nose when your cough or sneeze, not rubbing your eyes, nose or mouth under any circumstances. These measures have to continue until a larger segment of the population is vaccinated and the transmission chain can be effectively broken.
