April 26, 2024

Athens News

News in English from Greece

Pfizer Vaccine – Benefits, Side Effects, and For whom it is not recommended

Against the background of possible cases of thrombosis after AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccinations, I would like to know more about alternative options. Are there any side effects of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine? Can everyone do it?

For example, a high-level vaccine was delivered to Ukraine only a couple of days ago. And the population of European countries has been vaccinated with it since December, which allows us to draw certain conclusions.

In the manufacturer’s recommendations, it is noted that the drug is intended for vaccinations against coronavirus in the age group 16+. The vaccine is given in the forearm and requires two doses, with a difference of 3 weeks. Experts explain the effect of the vaccine as follows.

The anti-coronavirus drug contains an mRNA molecule. It “trains” the body to create a spike protein spike, which the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has and which it uses to enter cells. After the recognition of such a protein as foreign, the immune system begins to actively produce antibodies and activates leukocytes to attack it. If a vaccinated person encounters a coronavirus, his “thorn” is already recognized by the body and the immune system is instantly ready for full protection. The spike protein itself, injected with the vaccine, self-destructs after fulfilling its mission.

Pfizer is rated at 95% efficiency. This is one of the best indicators in the world. However, EMA, the European Medicines Agency, warns: until formal confirmation is received that a vaccinated person is not contagious to those around them, it will be considered a potential carrier of infection. And then the question of herd immunity arises.

To do this, consider the example of Israel. As of March, 53% of the population is covered by vaccinations in the country. Already after a month of mass vaccinations, which began in December, the number of new cases has steadily declined, and now this figure is minimal, which confirms the presence of herd immunity. The drug used for vaccination is Pfizer.

Currently, there is no answer to the question of how long the effect of vaccination is calculated for. At least 2 years of necessary research will be able to shed light on this fact. However, already now, some experts are sure that the coronavirus vaccine will need to be done annually.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is addressing Pfizer’s side effects and contraindications. Some people are not allowed to vaccinate with this drug – those who have gone through a severe allergic reaction at least once, especially if it touched the polyethylene glycol that is part of the vaccine.

It is this substance that often causes complaints from those who have experienced even mild side effects in the form of redness, pain or swelling at the injection site. Other possible manifestations include chills or fever, headache, nausea or fatigue, and muscle pain. As a rule, these manifestations last for 1-2 days and disappear without a trace. In this case, you can safely repeat the dose after a certain period of time. However, if the reaction of the body was severe, the second vaccination with this drug should be abandoned.

Experts warn – mild side effects are observed in about every tenth who received the vaccine. And this is normal – this is the body’s reaction to a foreign protein. For people with weakened immunities, experts recommend not to give up vaccination – the consequences of the deadly coronavirus can be much more dangerous for them than a short-term reaction of the body. However, those with chronic ailments and allergy sufferers should definitely consult with their doctor before vaccination.





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