Top COVID-19 Vaccines
The COVID-19 virus is a pandemic that disrupted 2020 on a global scale. Millions lost their lives, their primary source of income and their loved ones. Being something that we have never experienced, it took a toll on everyone no matter their status. For those who got infected but survived, the hospital bill was too much. It was even harder for those who lost their loved ones and are still groping with the medical bill. The author of this piece got infected but survived to tell the tale but her sister did not.
I am a big believer in hope. That is why I have been keen when it comes to everything COVID. The good news is that there are vaccines. The world fought back and yes, my country got its first shipment of vaccines delivered last week.
Most countries in the world did their very best to save their citizens. This is why there are several vaccines on the market. It is now time to drop the fear and indulge in seeking all the information you can concerning COVID-19 vaccines.
The Coronavirus vaccine rollout program is in full gear globally. According to NHS, 9 out of 10 of those aged 65+ including 80 percent of the 65-69 age group – have been given a vaccine. The aim is to vaccinate all persons over 50 by mid-April. What kind of vaccine is being used in the UK? Oxford/AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech. As of Feb 2, 2021, a single dose of the AstraZeneca Vaccine could prevent two-thirds of COVID-19 transmissions.
AstraZeneca
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AstraZeneca is extracted from a weakened cold virus that affects chimpanzees. Once the virus enters the body, it produces a surface spike protein like that in the coronavirus. An immune response is induced triggering your immune system to attack the virus if it ever infects your body.
AstraZeneca vaccine faces resistance in Europe after health workers suffer side-effects
Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
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The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine requires that you take two jabs, 21 days apart. The vaccine has undergone several clinical trials and has an efficacy of 95 percent effectiveness in preventing laboratory-confirmed COVID cases.
It is in public knowledge that some participants in the clinical trials were hospitalized or died while others who got the Pfizer-BioNTech were less likely to experience serious outcomes.
The common side effects of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are:
· Pain
· Redness
· Tiredness
· Swelling
· Fever
· Chills muscle pain
Sputnik V
Russia's Sputnik V vaccine is not only cheaper but can also be stored at higher temperatures than the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. This is why the vaccine is gaining popularity in less developed countries. One needs to take two doses taken within 21 days apart.
Concerns have been raised by experts on the effectiveness of this vaccine in terms of testing and acceleration. One can check the provisional analysis as published in The Lancet.
Johnson & Johnson
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Food and Drug Administration, FDA gave Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine authorization and the vaccine started shipping on March 1, 2021. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is unique from the previously mentioned vaccines because it only requires a single dose.
The vaccine is 85% effective at preventing serious forms of COVID -19. Its temperature storage requirements are also manageable and practical. According to President Joe Biden, the U.S will have enough vaccine amounts to get all the adult population vaccinated by the end of May 2021.
The analysis conducted by FDA found that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is 66% effective in the prevention of moderate to severe COVID-19 infection possibly 28 days after vaccination. The U.S. data however shows an increased efficacy. This efficacy level drops in South Africa where the vaccine is just 64% effective after 28 days of receiving it. This is hinged on the kind of variant currently present in countries like South Africa and the U.K.
The efficacy of different vaccines will improve. There is evident progress and one can be sure that the number of COVID-19 in the market will increase. They will be better than their predecessors.
Sources
1.https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/02/26/world/covid-19-coronavirus
4. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/Pfizer-BioNTech.html
5. https://www.prevention.com/health/a35227295/johnson-and-johnson-covid-19-vaccine/
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