Q: What is Vaccine? How does the mechanism work?

A: A vaccine (also called a vaccine or a vaccine) is a medicine that helps the body create immunity against the attack of bacteria (or viruses) from outside. body. The vaccine can be a liquid medicine, or an injection…, usually an injection.

Immunization (immunization) in English is called vaccination.

Mechanism: When a vaccine is injected or taken into the body, the body is stimulated to produce antibodies called antibodies that are immune to the invasion of the bacteria. that from the outside is called antigen.

Q: How is the vaccine made?

There are several ways to make a vaccine:

1- Using the same live bacteria (or virus) that are weakened, or dead, or lose all of its toxicity.

2- Using toxin (toxin) of bacteria but has reduced or lost its toxicity.

3- Using a substance capable of generating signals (messenger) makes the body think that bacteria are invading, so it automatically creates antibodies against that bacteria. This vaccine is called the mRNA vaccine vaccine.

Usually, making a vaccine takes at least 2 to many years (it can take 10-20 years). However, in the 2020 pandemic year, the Trump government created a special method called "Operation Warp Speed" (*) that has achieved unexpected results rapidly since its inception. early May 15, 2020. The pandemic covid-19 virus is called Noval Coronavirus 2019 (SARS-CoV-2).

Q: What vaccines against Coronavirus 2019 are currently accepted in the United States?

A: In an emergency against the world-devastating covid-19 pandemic, the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) has authorized the "emergency use" of the three vaccines as follows: :

1- Pfizer's vaccine, approved on December 11, 2020, belongs to the mRNA category.

2. The Moderna vaccine, approved a week later, is also mRNA.

3- The Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine was approved on February 27, 2021 as a DNA category because it is based on the adenovirus of mild influenza implanted in the body, so it is called DNA.

The reason for the "emergency use" is because it has not been officially accepted. Only when there are data proving efficacy and safety after a period of emergency use on a large scale can it be officially confirmed. The currently officially recognized vaccines in the US include the flu vaccine, the hepatitis vaccine, the leprosy vaccine, the measles, smallpox and so on.

Q: How are the vaccines effective, safe, and vaccinated?

A: After multiple animal tests, then on volunteers, the vaccines have been shown to be effective and safe (ie without dangerous side effects.)

The vaccine potency of Pfizer and Moderna is about 95% (just about 60-70% is considered to have good results). Particularly, drugs made by J&J are effective at 85%.

Drugs injected by Pfizer twice 3 weeks apart, need to be stored at very low temperatures.

Moderna's drug injected twice a month apart, stored at moderate low temperature.

J&J's drugs only need one time, easy to store at medium temperatures.

How long the efficacy of the above vaccines is being studied is being studied.

Question: How long after vaccination is considered safe from infection.

A: It takes 10 to 14 days after the last shot is given to achieve full immunity and one can rest assured that there will be no infection. As a result, the person who has just been vaccinated can still become sick and infect others, so basic precautions should be continued.

Q: What are the side effects and drug allergy?

A: Like any other medicine, the Covid-19 vaccine can cause side effects (mostly mild) within 24-48 hours of injection, such as: soreness at the injection site, dementia, fatigue, muscle aches, headache ... severe and mild depending on the individual. If the symptoms persist after 3 days, the medical staff should be reported.

After the second shot, you may have a mild fever or may have more side effects than the first shot. Tylenol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen can be taken to relieve pain after injection.

About allergies: There are very few cases of mild allergies within 4 hours after injection such as urticaria, itching, swelling, asthma…. A very rare few have severe allergies that require monitoring and treatment. So, after the vaccination, you need 15-minute spot monitoring. People with other serious chronic illnesses or a history of severe reactions should be followed up 30 minutes after injection.

If there is a severe reaction after the first shot, you should consult your GP for advice on the second shot.

Q: Is the vaccine effective against other variants of covid-19?

A: There are currently two types of covid-19 found: one in the UK (type B.1.1.1), one in South Africa (type B.1.351).

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are effective against the British variant, but less effective on the South African variant. J&J's drugs are effective against the South African variant.

Question: Who is given priority to get vaccinated?

A: The goal is for everyone to be immunized so that the whole society is free from infection. However, due to the time it takes to manufacture the drug, the priority shots are given in the following order:

- Medical staff and people who are in long-term treatment places such as hospitals, nursing homes ...

- Elderly people over 65 years old (preferably over 85, 75, 65 respectively) and people under 65 who have dangerous chronic diseases (diabetes, heart, kidney ...)

- People who regularly contact the public such as teachers, police, firefighters ...

- People of all ages when they have enough medicine.

Note:

- Pregnant and lactating mothers can still get the vaccine (should consult with the family doctor).

- Children 16 years of age and older can be vaccinated with Pfizer's drugs. Moderna and J&J only give injections to people aged 18 and over. Vaccinations for other children are being studied.

People with cancer also need to be immunized first, but should be monitored by a cancer doctor.

- People who already have covid-19 can be vaccinated 3 months after recovering from the illness.

Everyone should get the shot when possible.

Who should not be or be careful when getting vaccinated?

- People allergic to compounds in the vaccine such as polyethylene glycol and polysorbate (should not be injected).

- People who have had a severe allergic reaction to the first shot within 30 minutes should not get the shot.

- People with symptoms of covid-19, or flu, pneumonia, respiratory infection ... within the past two weeks ... should postpone until no longer signs above.

Question: What should I do if I want to get vaccinated?

A: The Federal Department of Health plans to send the vaccine to hospitals, health centers, and state health agencies; The state distributes it to County or City health agencies to hold immunizations.

Local authorities will implement immunization plans in order of preference by announcing how families will call for vaccination appointments at set locations and times and times. Currently, pharmacies have also cooperated to organize immunization plans according to County or City plans. Family doctors can also refer patients for on-demand immunizations ...

At the site of the vaccination, the assistants filling out the application, often the appointment must be driven by a car or driven by the family, and need to fill out questions about the history and history of allergy, now have symptoms. What. He was then directed to the vaccination site, then waited in one place for 15 minutes to follow up, if nothing happened he would be able to leave with a certificate and make an appointment next time.

Health authorities often call follow-up calls within a few days to see if there are any complications.

Question: When is society considered safe from coronavirus 2019?

Answer: During the covid-19 pandemic, if everyone in the country was fully vaccinated and effective after 10-14 days following the second injection (if given 2 times), that society would be considered as safe, no longer contagious.

If only all adults are vaccinated, but children have not yet been vaccinated, the spread of the disease in society remains, but children are at less risk of becoming seriously ill as adults.

Now the vaccine has been found and approved for use as of November 2020; There are already 3 US companies providing vaccines, this is the most important basis that has been implemented by the Trump administration, just the next steps such as production, distribution and vaccinations. The prospect of a pandemic escape is very high in the US.

However, the remaining problem depends on the speed of drug manufacture, the fast and adequate delivery and vaccination of all people (adults and children), in addition to the appearance of the variants. new virus, the control of immigrants to the United States from unvaccinated countries…, so it is difficult to predict exactly when the United States will completely escape the covid-19 pandemic.

The current situation of Covid-19 vaccination is as follows (March 13, 2021):

- Two-shot injection: 36 million

Get the first shot: 69.8 million

- Population: 332 million.

- Rate of vaccination: 32.5 / 100 people.

Dr. Do Van Hoi,

Updated on March 14, 2021)

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(*) The campaign "Operation Warp Speed" in coordination between government agencies, the military, the private sector ... with 10 billion US dollars invested to promote emergency research on vaccines, the way of distribution thus The results were surprisingly quick, within 6 months from the date of official announcement, May 15, 2020, some vaccines were accepted as currently.