By Mahaletchumy Arujanan and Saarani
THE adverse side-effects after being injected with the Covid-19 vaccines are the biggest public fear at the moment.
The fear of developing blood clots and even dying after injection with certain vaccines as seen in several countries and reported in the international media is fresh in the minds of everyone.
The public’s hesitant attitude to receive vaccines or the phenomenon called “vaccine hesitancy” has been further magnified in Malaysia when it was recently reported that 40 frontliners contracted the Covid-19 virus even after being vaccinated.
“Developing blood clots are really rare. The chances of one being afflicted with blood clots are only 0.0004 percent or four in one million people, especially for people below 60 years who have been vaccinated with certain vaccines.
“This is according to a study in the United Kingdom”, said Dr Masita Arip, consultant pathologist in microbiology and immunology from Malaysia’s Institute for Medical Research (IMR).
“And all vaccines and drugs have adverse effects. Nothing gives us the perfect outcome. Only Allah can do that,” says Prof Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, an infectious disease specialist at University of Malaya.
Both Masita and Adeeba pointed these out during a recent webinar under the “YakiniVaksin” or “Trust the Shot” campaign hosted by The Petaling Jaya-based The Petri Dish and Science Media Centre Malaysia.
Adeeba also said that Covid-19 infection possess higher risk of blood clotting if the patient undergoes cytokine syndrome.
The webinar supported by Duopharma Biotech Berhad under its CSR initiative is aimed at allying unfounded public fear regarding vaccines.
Masita advised the public to look out for common symptoms of blood clotting such as breathing difficulty, swollen feet, headache, chest pain, blurred vision, and blood spots on the skin.
Why Covid-19 vaccines are under the public radar?
What are the reasons for Covid-19 vaccines to court so much public hesitancy?
“Vaccination is usually perceived to be for children. This is the first time there is mass vaccination for adults. This raises a lot of fear and distrust,” reasoned Masita.
Yet, Adeeba who is also a WHO Council Member was quick to point out that Hajj and Umrah pilgrims have no qualms about getting the Meningococcal vaccine as it is a passport to enter Medina and Mecca.
“The aim becomes more important, which is to enter the holy land. We now have to see the Covid-19 vaccines with the aim of being safe from the disease. It is really devastating to see the long-term impact on my patients and their suffering,” added Adeeba who treats Covid-19 patients. She also said there is very little space in intensive units currently and that patients with co-morbidities are at higher risk.
Death related to Covid-19 vaccines
“Death due to vaccination is unfounded as it has no relation to the vaccines. Among the millions vaccinated in the USA, no death has been reported and there is very stringent post-vaccine monitoring that will alert us of any adverse incidents,” said Adeeba. She also mentioned that the fatal cases in Norway is not due to vaccines and reliable studies were undertaken to ascertain this.
Masita urged the public to give an honest medical history to the doctors to avoid any complications during and after vaccination.
Infection after vaccination
The common questions among the public is also “why vaccinate when the risk of infection is still there?”. However, Adeeba said the number of infections among healthcare workers have reduced significantly after vaccination.
“A study published in The Lancet that covered 23,000 healthcare staff saw a drop in infection to 71 cases after the first dose compared to 977 before the vaccination programme commenced”, she said.
“And there only nine cases after the second dose,” she added.
Masita said that is also because of the different efficacy level and antibody reactions that may differ from person to person and the emergence of new mutants. “This, in fact, calls for the public to get their immunisation faster to prevent the virus from further mutating,” she said.
Mutation is when the spike protein on the virus changes the structure and the antibody is not able to recognise the spike protein.
“Vaccination still provides us the protection where the symptoms and impact of the disease could be reduced significantly. Currently, five to 10 percent of Covid-19 patients are in category 4 or 5 who need breathing assistance. Vaccination could make the symptoms less severe if infected and they might not need hospitalisation,” explained Adeeba citing Scotland where hospital admissions dropped by 90 percent after the first shot of vaccination.
She also cited the current situation in India should be a lesson for us where the healthcare system is crumbling. “We have cancer patients who come at a very late stage because they were postponing their hospital check-ups and this is very sad,” said the expert.
Giving the options to choose vaccine
While there is a debate among the public and some experts on whether people should be given options to choose the type of vaccines they want, Masita says all vaccines approved in Malaysia are of high quality and the best way to overcome the pandemic is to accept the designated vaccine.
Adeeba says giving a choice will not work and will only complicate things. “I see the tedious process my colleagues go through in deploying the vaccines, fixing appointments, and arranging the logistics. There will be a lot of wastage if everyone chooses their vaccines”.
When both the experts were also asked about their experience in getting vaccinated, they spoke with excitement and related the mild side effects such as slight pain on the injection site, fever, and body ache. “I was happy to have these side effects as it shows my immune system is building the antibodies”, said Adeeba. Masita shared the same side effects and said normal pain killers are good enough to reduce this discomfort.
However, Adeeba also added “no side effects” does not mean the antibodies are not produced as everyone’s body reacts differently.
Are fast tracked vaccines safe?
The vaccines were developed in an unprecedented time – where the whole world was in a dire need of vaccines – which led to pooling investment and forging collaboration. “But no corners were cut. There were many volunteers to run the clinical trials which is another factor”, explained Adeeba.
“The halal issue is also verified by JAKIM, so there is nothing to be worried about”, added Masita.
Takeaway messages
Both experts in their parting shot said the only way out of this pandemic is to be vaccinated. “We need to think about children and some elderly people who are not able to get immunised. We need to protect them by vaccinating ourselves”, said Adeeba. She also asked the public to avoid crowded places and reduce the risk of infection so that schools can remain open which should be our priority.
Masita said vaccination is proven to reduce infection, hospitalisation, and death. She pointed the need for economic recovery and going back to our old lifestyle.
The webinar can be watched here.
