Photo Credit : https://www.fiercepharma.com/manufacturing/astrazeneca-shot-production-lags-mexico-thanks-to-complex-factory-certification
With the outbreak of COVID-19, numerous countries faced great emergency as a whole. Their goal was to eliminate the cause of this pandemic in the safest and fastest method. To achieve this goal, vaccines had to be developed to create immunity against the virus. However, these vaccines are creating struggles with different characteristics and unexpected side effects.
mRNA vaccines in use for the elimination of COVID-19 differ from traditional ones in the process of creating immunity. Conventional vaccines inject antigens or in other words, a piece of the virus into the body. The immune system then creates antibodies to this antigen, so if the body ever experiences this specific pathogen in the future, it’s ready to fight it off. mRNA vaccines are injected into the body and enter its cells, where it provides instructions to produce antigens. The cell then presents the antigens to the immune system, prompting responses that can fight the disease.
Currently, there are two authorized and recommended vaccine types in the United States: Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine. Although the two vaccines are mRNA type, there are specific rules to keep when using these vaccines since there is information on who is and is not recommended to receive each.
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, it is given 2 shots 21 days apart by a shot in the muscle of the upper arm. This vaccine is recommended for people older than the age of 16. However, if a person showed or shows any immediate allergic reaction to the first vaccine shot, regardless of severity, they should not receive an additional dose of the same vaccine. An immediate allergic reaction means a reaction within 4 hours of getting vaccinated, including symptoms such as hives, swelling, or wheezing. Despite one being recommended to take Pfizer-BioNTech, there could be side effects such as pain, swelling, redness on the arm, chills, tiredness, and headache.
For the case of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine is given 2 shots 28 days apart also by the same method as Pfizer-BioNTech. This vaccine, different from the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, is recommended to people over 18-years-old. The types of people who should avoid receiving this vaccine are similar to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, emphasizing danger signs from allergic reactions. This vaccine may also bring similar side effects.
Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), displayed 4 ethical principles to these struggles of vaccine decision-making. These principles plan to maximize benefits and minimize harms by respecting and caring for people. Additionally, they aim to mitigate health inequities by reducing health disparities to promote justice by treating the affected ones fairly. Finally, they seek to promote transparency by making clear, understandable, open decisions allowing and seeking public participation in the creation and review of the decision processes.
With the difficult but clear processes of vaccine decision-making, we could hope for an earlier vaccination practice this month. However, the start of vaccination does not mean that we are eligible to be dosed right away. Although that it has been announced that the elderly and infirm are to be vaccinated first, we hope for a faster day to see our classmates face to face in class and other places on campus.
Written by Yeonseo Shim | Staff Writer
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