According to the health news, five vaccines have been approved in the country so far, i.e. Cansino, Sputnik, Sinopharm, Sinovac, and AstraZeneca. Having seen the repercussions of the virus last year, a lot of educated people in Pakistan are getting themselves vaccinated. However, there are still many stigmas attached to the vaccination, and people at large are still in considerable doubt of its efficacy.
Although a large part of this scepticism stems from blatant ignorance, some people genuinely want to be more informed about the topic.
Given the statistics from daily health news, here are some questions that people usually want answers to.
- Do vaccines have any influence on the human immune system, and do they reduce our innate ability to make antibodies?
No, plain and simple. Vaccines are made to boost your immune system. Thus they do not disrupt or suppress the immune system in any way.
- Are these vaccines safe for diabetic patients or those who are suffering from arthritis and high blood pressure?
Vaccines are not entirely safe for the patients mentioned above, but they are highly recommended to them. That is because people dealing with hypertension, diabetes and heart diseases are high-risk individuals.
- Is the vaccine recommended for people with pacemakers and transplants? Is it also beneficial for the ones taking insulin?
Transplant recipients and the people taking insulin are required to get vaccinated as soon as possible. These patients not just have compensated the immune system, but they are also required to visit the hospital frequently. As one could understand, no matter how many times the hospital atmosphere gets sterilised, it will always be fraught with numerous pathogens.
- Should patients suffering from lethal diseases like tuberculosis, HIV and hepatitis get vaccinated?
Although people dealing with life-threatening diseases should discuss their condition in detail with the doctor, they must get themselves vaccinated like everyone else.
- Is vaccination recommended for married people who are planning to start a family soon?
Conversely, like every other corona vaccine, common misconception does not affect a man’s or woman’s fertility. It is preposterous to assume vaccines would be developed to prevent conception. Thus if you are thinking of starting a family soon, get your partner vaccinated and not let this problematic thought cross your mind.
Each of these five approved vaccines is designed to combat viruses and bacteria. Hence they have no positive or negative effect on human tissues and cells. Not to mention that it is scientifically impossible to induce infertility via any vaccine.
- Should pregnant and lactating women get themselves vaccinated?
For the baby’s safety, it is incumbent for pregnant and lactating women to themselves be vaccinated.
Fortunately, almost all vaccines are safe for pregnant women. However, before administering any vaccine, pregnant women should still need to consult their physicians first.
- Is vaccination recommended for everyone?
Although everyone’s personal and societal responsibility to get vaccinated, one person is an exceptional case. For instance, if you are someone who is already severely ill by Covid-19, vaccination would barely do anything to help. Instead, it can worsen the situation.
Furthermore, if you have a history of allergies, you might get severe allergic reactions from the vaccine. Thus, it is imperative first to check the vaccine guidelines.
- Why is vaccination not as much stress for children?
Since all the vaccinations are relatively new, there is not adequate safety data available. Children are the last people who should be subjected to such clinical trials. Thus it is better to wait before getting your child vaccinated.
- Why are vaccinations being given to people over 60?
Individuals who have crossed sixty years of their life are vulnerable to most health dilemmas. Therefore they are a priority group when it comes to vaccination.
We hope this article has shed light on some of your confusion. However, if you want to dig deeper to answer your queries, you ought to consult a good physician.
