With so many resources going into understanding COVID-19, it seems like every day we get new surprising information about its effects on us. Diabetes after COVID-19 is the latest complication that may soon be getting a lot of scrutiny by the medical community. The two conditions are not directly related: one is a disease caused by a virus and the other is a metabolic disease.
There isn’t a clear answer yet but hospitals and doctors are doing their best to check if there is indeed a link between COVID-19 and increased diabetes cases. A few studies suggest that between 5% to 14.4% of COVID-19 patients went on to also develop diabetes later on. Is it possible that you have a higher risk of diabetes after COVID-19 recovery? The answer is a bit complicated so let’s dive right in:
Diabetics can surely be vaccinated with Covid 19 vaccine, it is not contraindicated and can in fact be useful to prevent complications as diabetics are more vulnerable to developing severe illness post covid.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.
Type I diabetes is when the pancreas produces very little or no insulin for the body to use. So then, what is type 2 diabetes? Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder that develops when insulin is being produced but is not being used by the body (also called insulin resistance). Insulin is required by the body to metabolise glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream. When insulin is absent or unused then the levels of sugar in the blood keeps rising since it has nowhere to go.
Caused by the Coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 is a respiratory disease. The infection can present as mild with minor flu or cold-like symptoms (or no symptoms). It is easily spread through contact with an infected person or through air droplets in the environment. In some people (especially elders and those with poor immunity) it can lead to severe illness (including high fever, respiratory distress and even death ).
These two things do not seem similar in any way, so why are some people developing diabetes after COVID-19?
Convincing evidence indicates that viruses are associated with T1D development and progression. During the COVID-19 pandemic, cases of hyperglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, and new diabetes increased, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 may be a trigger for or unmask T1D.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
So it is possible that many of the people who are getting diagnosed with diabetes after COVID-19 are simply discovering preexisting conditions. This may be due to better/more frequent testing during the COVID-19 infection or treatment leading to the diagnosis of diabetic conditions that would have otherwise remained hidden.
This emphasizes the need for us to be completely aware of prediabetes symptoms and signs of diabetes in men and signs of diabetes in women, which can help in early diagnosis, and consequently more effective treatment options.
Some of these may also be associated with normal recovery, so do not panic if you notice them. But consider running these by your doctor just to be safe.
Here are a few symptoms to keep an eye out for that may indicate diabetes:
Also Read: Omicron Variant: Latest News & Updates
While we still do not know if there is indeed a relation between these two conditions, there are still a few things to keep in mind. First, if you are overweight or obese try to healthily lose a few kilos. If you have already lost weight due to COVID-19 do not try to lose more weight, instead, work with your doctor to get back to a healthy weight, make changes to your diet and cut out unhealthy, processed foods. Lastly, get yourself tested for diabetes at the earliest especially if you have just recovered from COVID-19. In any case, do not panic, consult your doctors and understand the best possible way to manage the condition for yourself as the modality of treatment varies from person to person.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
India carried out one of the largest vaccination programs in the world and is one of the leading countries when it comes to the number of people vaccinated. This is heartening news because this means we are all a little more protected from the dreaded coronavirus.
In this context, a question that is on the mind of every parent with a very young child is, when will the COVID vaccine for children in India be available?
Children are as vulnerable to COVID as adults. And very small ones might be at greater risk as they may fail to follow Covid appropriate behaviour very precisely. Schools and colleges have remained closed for many months now and it has greatly disrupted their academic routine. This situation can not possibly continue. The pandemic and the lockdown life has also greatly affected children’s psychological health. So for the sake of their safety and wellbeing, the COVID vaccine for children is ultra essential.
India already has three Covid vaccines – Corbevax, Covovax and Covaxin – that have received emergency use approvals in children from 5 to 12. The nod means human trials in this bracket have found these shots safe and effective.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
The very simple reason is that experts weren’t yet sure whether the vaccines that are being administered to adults are safe for children. And even if they are safe, what would be the dosage? Clearly, children would need smaller doses than adults. But what dosage would be effective in triggering an immense response?
Trials have been ongoing to find out all the answers. And finally, the scientists have given the green light and COVID vaccines for children will soon hit the market.
A COVID-19 vaccine can prevent your child from getting infected and spreading coronavirus. If your child gets infected, a COVID-19 vaccine could prevent them from becoming severely ill in subsequent exposure to COVID-19 infection. The Government of India has extended the COVID-19 vaccination for children in the 15 to 18 age group on 3 January 2022.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.
The Subject Expert Committee has recommended the emergency use authorization of India’s home-grown COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin for children between 2-18 years of age. Higher authorities and officials will hold extensive talks with experts, before this COVID vaccine for children in India is rolled out.
Another vaccine that may become available in the market as early as November is ZyCoV-D developed by India’s Zydus Cadila. This vaccine has earned emergency use approval for everyone above 12 years of age. Discussions are ongoing to decide whether this vaccine should also be made available to children below 12 years of age. ZyCoV-D is a unique 3-dose, a needle-free vaccine for COVID-19.
Also Read: Omicron Variant & Vaccine Efficacy
Until the COVID vaccine for children in India is available and your child gets vaccinated, make sure that you limit their exposure to the virus. They need to wear masks at all times whenever they go out of the house. Sanitization of hands is vital. Make sure their outside clothes and bags are disinfected properly. And the adults of the household should be vaccinated and must also follow the above-mentioned COVID protocol.
Also Read: Omicron Variant Latest News & Updates
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
We all have understood that COVID-19 is here to stay and we will have to make our peace with this fact. Similar to Influenza, some experts opine that SARS CoV-2 may also enter the endemic stage. What does this really mean and how is our behaviour significant at this time? Let’s find out.
The endemic stage stands for a time when a population learns to live with a particular virus. The region where the virus has entered the endemic stage may keep observing small flare-ups of the spread but those would not be big enough to spread beyond the boundaries of that particular region. Moreover, the spread also does not become as overwhelming as it was during the pandemic or epidemic stages.
Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Chief Medical Advisor to the US President, Dr Anthony Fauci believes that the world would start seeing a decline in the number of cases in the coming spring, while Moderna’s CEO, Stéphane Bancel claims that the pandemic would be over within next one year.
Some experts believe that the cases of COVID-19 are going to see a steady decline in the winter season
The only challenge in the way of the virus entering the endemic stage is ‘human behaviour’, claimed the experts. One of the biggest reasons behind the second wave of infection was the careless attitude of people around the world who believed that the worst was over. Expressing the same concern, CDC Director Dr Rochelle Walensky said, “We are battling with one another and not battling with the common foe, which is the virus itself.”
Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has also claimed that the pandemic is still far from over and it totally depends upon the countries to use the available tools effectively to decide when it finally comes to an end.
Optimism is totally justified, given people understand their responsibility. Experts have claimed that it is quite natural to be optimistic and believe that the pandemic would end in the next year, but it is important to understand that controlling it would require a global solution.
Learnings from past experiences of pandemics like that of Flu give us some idea of how this pandemic can proceed towards endemicity, but nothing can be assured at this point of time till further studies affirm this.
According to the experts, immunization has a major role to play when talking about COVID-19 cases. We need to encourage more and more people to get vaccinated.
Some experts have also claimed that an optional booster dose of vaccine may help the high-risk population from getting severe symptoms due to COVID infection. Challenges in the way of COVID-19 entering the endemic stage. Vaccination is the most effective way of containing the spread of the virus, vaccine hesitancy, especially among children, is the biggest roadblock in the way of the virus getting into the endemic stage.
The experts have advised people to get vaccinated on priority as this is the safest way possible to try and make a place COVID-19-free. With the belief that the virus is going to remain in circulation even after a year, we need to be alert to combat every situation.
Studies and research are still going on and no one can actually state what’s going to come next. The virus has surprised us in the part and there is no guarantee it would not do it again, so dropping the guard against the virus may not be a good idea. Social distancing, hand hygiene, respiratory etiquettes, wearing a mask and avoiding crowded places should remain the norms of conducting ourselves in future too.
Also Read: Omicron Variant: Risks & Safety Precautions
The health experts around the world are convinced that the COVID-19 pandemic is bound to enter the endemic stage sometime in the next year, but it is up to us how we conduct ourselves during the period to expedite the process.
Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation
COVID-19 has been a pandemic everyone of us just wants to be over and forget these horrifying couple of years once and for all. It has not been an easy situation to handle for any of us ever since it first appeared in central China back in December 2019. It, however, has been even tougher for certain people who have a weaker immune system.
Many studies have proven that COVID-19 is even deadlier for those whose immune system isn’t up to the mark or are suffering from a condition that compromises their immune system.
It would not be wrong to say that people who are already suffering from Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) have been the most troubled lot amongst the people susceptible of getting severe symptoms and hospitalisation due to the respiratory infection.
Ever since the coronavirus started spreading across the globe, the healthcare community was worried that it was going to severely affect HIV patients and those with a compromised immune system.
The anticipation was not wrong as the weaker immune system of HIV patients might not have played a role in making them more prone to get infected but it most certainly increased the chances of a more severe case of COVID-19, once the virus was contracted.
Lauren K. Barbera, from the University of Colorado and her teammates, in a review article published in HIV Research and Clinical Practice, have claimed that the recent studies have proven that people with HIV (PWH) are at a bigger risk of suffering from a severe disease on contracting COVID-19, even if they have fairly controlled HIV infection.
The review paper submitted by Barbera and her colleagues had combined a total of 212 articles published on the subject from March 2020 to July 2021.
A real extensive study, conducted on over three million patients in South Africa, suggests that HIV patients have a two-fold bigger risk of COVID-19 death, irrespective of CD4 count or HIV viral load. Some other studies have also suggested similar outcomes for HIV patients.
In yet another shocking stat, people living with HIV, who are about 0.7 percent of the world’s population, accounted for about 0.5 to 1.5 percent of COVID-19 cases around the globe.
Discussed below are some facts giving a more clear picture of the correlation between COVID-19 and HIV. Have a look:
Fever, shortness of breath, cough and cold are some of the most common symptoms of COVID-19. Other symptoms may include muscle pain, loss of smell and taste and headaches.
The authors of the study, conducted on 286 people with HIV, have found that they noticed similar symptoms in them too. People with HIV should consult their doctor even if they notice the slightest discomfort or any of the above-mentioned symptoms.
The review also claimed that a lot of studies and case reports suggest that people suffering from HIV, who contract COVID-19 infection, are more susceptible to be severely ill or get admitted to ICU than the people who do not have HIV.
The reviewers also claimed that the mortality rate due to COVID-19 is also higher among HIV patients. The study quoted in the review to support the mortality rate is based on a study conducted in the United Kingdom that proved it to be true. The number of deaths reported in the study, however, was relatively low.
As we all know, social distancing, quarantining and self-isolation due to COVID-19 has had a huge impact on the mental health of people in the recent past. According to Barbara and her teammates, the studies have found the impact to be even bigger on the minds of HIV patients.
One of the studies in the review submitted by the team of the University of Colorado proved that people suffering from HIV were more concerned about their physical health, mental health, accommodations and finances during the pandemic.
The researchers also pointed out that telemedicine played a big role in preventing these mental issues turn into something serious due to the privacy and flexibility it offers but the HIV patients had to overcome the barriers of socioeconomic status, digital literacy and reimbursement issues.
As expected, HIV patients had to be even more cautious during the COVID-19 pandemic because of their compromised immune systems and should continue their treatment and follow-ups for HIV. There, however, was a silver lining that they also had to take the same precautions to avoid contracting the virus as a non-HIV infected l person.
As we are advancing towards endemicity in India, we should not lower our guard against the virus. We all should unite to follow all the precautionary measures like social distancing, wearing a mask, frequently washing our hands, and getting vaccinated as soon as possible to finally kick this virus out of our country.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
By now many of us have received at least the first dose of any of the approved COVID-19 vaccines. Everyone knows that the COVID-19 vaccines are administered to the upper arms. But have you ever wondered why?
Most vaccines such as those for Hepatitis B, DPT, HPV, are injected into the upper arms, except some like the Rotavirus vaccine or Oral Polio vaccine which is administered orally. But why the arm? Read on to find the answer.
Once the vaccine is administered into the upper arm muscle, it is taken to the nearest lymph nodes. There the vaccine comes in contact with the guardians of the body – the White Blood Cells which function to develop immunity against the vaccine. Your body starts producing antibodies and your immunity is now active and you have a defence mechanism against Coronavirus.
There is a muscle in your upper arm called the deltoid muscle. It is a triangular muscle extending from the shoulder to the upper arm and it helps you lift your arm. COVID-19 vaccines are administered right into the deltoid muscle through the intramuscular route. The deltoid muscles have excellent blood circulation. This leads to quick absorption of the components of the vaccine, maximization of the immune response and at the same time reduces the possibility of severe after-effects of the vaccine.
On top of that, the deltoid muscle injection is easy and fast, which means many doses of the vaccines( to multiple people) can be administered in a short time. This factor is crucial when we are racing against the clock to get the entire population vaccinated by the year-end.
You will also experience less pain at the vaccine administration site.
Intramuscular injections are administered at a 90-degree angle to the skin, preferably into the anterolateral aspect of the thigh or the deltoid muscle of the upper arm, depending on the age of the patient, for infants and younger children receiving more than two injections in a single limb, the thigh is the preferred site.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.
If it is not possible for a person to take the COVID vaccine in arms due to any reason like missing or amputated arms, he/she can be given the intramuscular shot of COVID vaccine in the thigh region which is also a suitable site for intramuscular injections.
There is no escape from the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines but the side-effects indicate that the vaccine is working. Did you know that one of the most important reasons why COVID-19 vaccines are administered to the upper arm muscle is that the side effects don’t spill over to the nearby muscles and tissues? There will only be localized pain, irritation and inflammation.
Since the deltoid upper arm muscle has a good blood supply, recovery is rapid.
Do not rub the vaccine administration site. Once you come home, you can gently apply a cold compress to the area to dull the pain. Paracetamol can help alleviate pain and discomfort. It is normal for the pain to last at least a week and there may even be some bruising at the site. If pain intensifies suddenly or you notice any other unusual side-effect, contact your doctor.
Vaccination is the only way we can develop herd immunity. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and please do not believe any of the rumours being circulated online. Book yourself and your loved ones a slot. At the same time, continue to maintain COVID safety protocol such as wearing masks and sanitising hands. It doesn’t take much to keep yourself safe.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
“Breakthrough infection” is a new term that you may have heard recently. It stands for those people who are fully vaccinated for at least two weeks and then contract COVID-19 infection. It is very much similar to unvaccinated people who get infected with the virus but there are some differences in the symptoms and intensity of the infection.
According to a study conducted on the symptoms of the breakthrough infection, it presents itself with signs like –
Some of these symptoms are exactly the same that unvaccinated people experience when they contract COVID-19. The common symptoms are –
Notably, there are a couple of more symptoms that usually vaccinated people do not experience. They are –
These two are the most common COVID-19 symptoms but vaccinated people are way less likely to experience these problems. According to a study, people who suffer from breakthrough infection are 58 percent less likely to experience heightened body temperature as compared to the people who did not get their jabs.
A few studies have also proven that people who have already taken both their shots of COVID-19 are less likely to be hospitalised than people who have not taken the vaccine yet.
The other difference is that vaccinated people are less likely to experience any symptoms in the initial stages of the infection and also may not develop long COVID.
As per the experts, the reason behind vaccinated people developing milder symptoms could be the vaccines. Even if these vaccines are unable to block the infection entirely, they seem to ensure that the infected person has fewer virus particles in his/her body.
This belief is yet to be proven with concrete studies but the recent cases suggest the same story.
Read More: All About The Omicron Covid Variant
According to a study conducted in the United Kingdom, 0.2 percent of the population, which means one in every 500 people, suffers from breakthrough infection after being fully vaccinated. The researchers, however, confirmed that the risk is not the same for everyone. They highlighted four things that may be contributing to your shield against COVID-19. Have a look –
The most important and the first aspect should be the type of vaccine you have taken and the relative risk reduction it offers. Relative risk reduction stands for a measurement of how less likely you become to contract the infection as compared to an unvaccinated person.
The relative risk reduction doesn’t completely assure you that the effects of the vaccine are going to last forever. Over the past few weeks, the debate over the third dose of the vaccines has intensified only because the scientists and researchers believe that the efficacy of the vaccines is surely going to wane off as time passes.
Therefore, if you have had taken the second dose of the vaccine more than six months ago, you might be more prone to catch the breakthrough infection.
A variant of the virus sure does play a crucial role in defining your risk of contracting the breakthrough infection of COVID-19. Most of the studies that we currently have read had been conducted on the original form of the Coronavirus that hit the world back in December 2019.
The efficacy of most of the available vaccines drops when they are dealing with the Alpha variant of Coronavirus and when it comes to the delta variant, the efficacy drops even further. As the virus is expected to keep mutating in future too, the efficacy of the vaccines may drop even further, leaving us more vulnerable to breakthrough infection.
Also Read: Omicron vs Other Variants
The above-mentioned factors are based on a general study on a population, irrespective of the overall health of a particular person. It means that your level of protection against breakthrough infection also depends upon your overall health, how strong your immunity is and the other person-specific factors.
You may be more vulnerable to the breakthrough infection because you work in the healthcare sector where you stay more exposed to the virus or your age is over 50 years or you already suffer from a chronic ailment that has compromised your immune system, etc. These may be the contributing factors to your vulnerability.
Notably, all the countries had first vaccinated the people who were most vulnerable to the infection, which means that most of them took their second dose about 6-7 months back. Hence, their immunity against COVID-19 may have waned off by now putting them at risk again.
Despite the above-discussed risk factors, vaccines surely are our biggest weapon against COVID-19 disease. Even if they are unable to give 100 percent protection against breakthrough infection, they surely are keeping the chances of severe illness and hospitalisation at the lowest.
There are plenty of countries that are planning to start administering the third dose of the vaccine to provide sturdier protection against COVID-19. Initially, they are planning to administer the dose to the vulnerable groups and then move on to the entire population. This may become a norm in the months to come in every country.
The vaccines might be failing to prevent breakthrough infection in a few cases but they should not be interpreted in any way that these are not effective. The only way we can defeat COVID-19 is by getting vaccinated as soon as possible. When there would be fewer people getting infected, the virus would eventually disappear. Moreover, we should also ensure to keep all the risk enhancing factors in mind to prevent the spread of the virus.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
India is seeing a sharp rise in the number of people being diagnosed with heart-related conditions and once again, the reason somewhere seems to be COVID-19. Yes, doctors in many cities across the country have noticed that the people who recovered from severe COVID-19 have been encountering heart issues like heart attacks, chest pains, heart failure, low pump capacity, arrhythmia, blood clotting, heart-swelling, etc.
These issues have majorly occurred within three months of their recovery from COVID-19.
As we all know, COVID-19 is a disease that infects the lungs but what many people did not know is that it also impacts the other body parts, including but not limited to the cardiac system.
While you undergo treatment for COVID-19, your immune system also tries to fight the virus and both these things lead to a high level of inflammation inside the body. This eventually leads to complications outside the lungs too.
This is the reason why people who never had any cardiac issues before contracting COVID-19 have reported cardiac issues after recovering from the infection.
There are plenty of complications a COVID-19 patient may experience after recovering successfully from the disease. Generally, these complications arise within three months of the recovery.
As per the experts, this problem has been mainly found among young and middle-aged adults and elderly patients. They experienced shortness of breath, chest pain and palpitations. Explaining the same, the experts claimed that these complications could be the result of heart-related problems but they can also be the result of other factors, like the result of being extremely ill for a long time, staying inactive for a long period of time, spending weeks in bed to recover from a disease, etc.
The experts have also suggested that people who already had heart-related problems before being diagnosed with COVID-19 must take good care of themselves and take all the precautions, medications and follow-ups with the doctor. This may help them in preventing any major complications.
Furthermore, the experts have figured out that people with diabetes, high cholesterol and chronic kidney disease are more prone to suffering from cardiac problems after recovering from COVID-19.
The doctors also claimed that such cases have become more prevalent ever since the second wave of COVID-19, as there were not many cases noticed during the first wave. Moreover, the doctors have noticed extended use of steroids during the second wave which could be a reason behind these problems.
Experts suggest that people who have recovered from COVID-19 must ensure that they go for regular cardiac screening, and the frequency should be at least once every six months. They should also stick to a healthy diet and follow a regime of physical activities.
Moreover, they also should keep taking the medications suggested by their doctor.
Mentioned below are the precautions a cardiac patient should take post-COVID-recovery under the supervision of a qualified registered physician or cardiologist:
The cases of heart-related complications after COVID-recovery have gone significantly up during the past few months. It is really important for everyone to take good care of themselves even after recovering from the disease. Regular checkups and other precautions may help you keep yourself safe. With the third wave spreading its wings across the country, we should be even more cautious to reduce the effects of the deadly disease to the minimum levels.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
With the COVID-19 cases rising once again in many parts of the country, the speculations regarding the need for a booster vaccination dose against the virus have intensified. Everyone is concerned if they should get the third dose or not.
To make things even more intriguing, the United States has decided to administer their people with the third dose from September onwards. They have decided to inoculate the vulnerable group of people first with the third dose.
There are a few more countries thinking about administering the third dose to eliminate the possibility of another deadly wave of COVID-19.
As per the experts, India surely is going to need a booster dose in the later stages. The government, however, has maintained that the need for the third dose of the vaccine is being closely monitored.
A booster dose is administered to enhance the antibody levels in the body when they start lowering after a certain period of time following the second shot of the vaccine.
The director at the National Institute of Virology, Dr Priya Abraham recently explained that studies have been under process in several foreign countries on the requirement of booster shots and at least seven vaccines have already been tried out. In the days to come, the booster dose will surely become a recommendation for everyone.
The director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Dr Randeep Guleria has also pointed out that booster doses are definitely going to become a necessity looking at the mutating variants of the deadly virus. He also claimed that the immunity tends to fall as time passes. It happens because of waning immunity.
He said that it still has to be found out if a yearly dose would be required or not and if it would be mandatory for everyone or not.
On the other hand, European Medicines Agency has notified that it is too early to claim that there was any need for an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine, apart from the pre-defined two doses. It said that they were certain that the current regimen was sufficient for COVID-19 prevention.
Some other experts have suggested that the authorities around the world should focus more on the first round of vaccination as when enough people would be inoculated, the mutated versions of coronavirus would take time to pop up again.
Did you know?
Currently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is stopping the countries from going ahead with the third dose as there are plenty of poor countries where the inoculation rate is very alarming.
WHO has said that the high-income countries should not go ahead with the third dose administration drive till the low-income countries catch up with a healthy inoculation rate.
Moreover, WHO chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan also highlighted recently that the data available right now does not suggest any need for a third dose for anyone.
On the other hand, the United States health officials have been claiming for a long time now that people might require a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccines just like they do for other vaccines.
Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) chairman Cyrus Poonawalla, recently revealed that he has already taken the third dose of the vaccine and also appealed to everyone, who have already completed their course of two vaccines, to go ahead and take the third dose once it has already been six months.
Furthermore, he said that he has already got about seven to eight thousand SII employees inoculated with the third dose.
According to the media reports, the results of trials of the third booster dose of Covaxin developed and manufactured by Bharat Biotech and the National Institute of Virology, are expected to come by November 2021.
The booster dose of the “Made in India” vaccine was first introduced in May this year. It has been under trial ever since then at 12 different centres including AIIMS in Delhi and Patna.
The Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) had granted permission to run clinical trials for the third dose of Covaxin back in April this year. The results of the first trials carried out in April are expected in August, while the result of the second trial is scheduled to arrive in November this year.
The results of these trials will define the immunogenicity, reactogenicity, safety and tolerability of the booster dose of Covaxin.
As far as Indian and US experts are concerned, they both seem to be on the same page in terms of the need for the third dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while WHO has something else to suggest. The government may soon take a decision on the issue as the cases of Delta plus variant are rapidly increasing in some parts of India and may spread across states very quickly.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
When people were hoping to develop herd immunity after enough people would have recovered from COVID-19 or got vaccinated against it, the head of the UK’s Oxford Vaccine Group has warned that it may never be possible.
The leader of Oxford University’s COVID-19 vaccine developer team, Professor Andrew Pollard, has claimed that nothing can eliminate the possibility of even more transmissible variants of Coronavirus. Therefore, we would never be able to put a full stop to the spread of the virus.
He, however, has also mentioned that there is nothing to “panic” while expressing his doubts over the third booster dose suggested by the government of the United Kingdom.
He clarified that the Delta variant is not in any way similar to measles, which could not spread in a community where 95 percent of the population has already been inoculated.
More points he highlighted are –
Professor Pollard’s views were supported by Paul Hunter who is also a professor at the University of East Anglia. Prof. Hunter is a very credible expert in infectious diseases. He was the same professor who first mentioned that the current vaccines are surely giving protection against severe COVID-19 infection and death but they cannot eliminate the possibility of infection entirely.
Describing herd immunity as “unachievable”, he said that that infection will keep spreading among the unvaccinated populations and also added that the latest data suggests that the two doses of the vaccines are only providing 50 percent of protection against infection.
Some experts believe that Professor Pollard’s doubts over the third dose are not relevant and the plan of UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid to administer the third booster shot along with a flu vaccine to those who are at a higher risk of getting infected is a smart choice. This has been proposed to be brought into action from September onwards.
Professor Pollard suggests that we may consider administering the third dose to vulnerable people if we see more hospitalisations or deaths among the vaccinated people.
While accepting that the level of immunity does drop after a certain period of time, he pointed out that our immune system still remembers the body getting vaccinated and this memory lasts for decades.
Hence, there is nothing to panic about at the moment. Raising another very important point, Professor Pollard said that these doses should be transported to those places of the world where people have not been vaccinated and where these can actually create a greater impact.
Fresh cases recorded on Monday – 32,937
Total deaths recorded on Monday – 417
No of doses administered – Over 55 crore
COVID hotspot in India – Karnataka, accounting for more than 50 percent of the total cases
Although we do not have the right resources as of yet to stop the spread of COVID-19, we surely do not need to panic and just have to adhere to the protocols established by your local authorities. We can only stop the spread and protect our loved ones if we abide by the rules. As suggested by the experts, the situation is going to get better with time.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
Curious to know about FLiRT variants of COVID-19 circulating in the US? The whole world has somewhat understood that COVID-19 is not going to go anytime soon and that they have to find ways to live with it. People seem to be making peace with every problem the virus has caused, except one – the mutation of SARS-CoV-2.
FLiRT is the name given to a group of COVID sub-variants, including KP.2 and KP.1.1. As per the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the new COVID variant KP.2 accounts for 25% of new COVID-19 infections reported in the US. COVID variant KP.2 is said to have evolved out of the mutations in the JN.1 Covid variant. JN.1 is a subvariant of Omicron which was different in terms of symptoms and transmission rate when compared with the Delta variant.
The most burning questions the world is facing right now are how much protection the current vaccines offer, what makes these variants prop up, can vaccines fully protect us, and how we can protect ourselves.
We have tried to cover all the questions here to solve your dilemmas. Have a look:
As per scientific research, a virus mutates or comes up with a new variant whenever there is any kind of change in the genetic code of the current virus strain.
Coronavirus isn’t doing anything new, as many viruses and pathogens tend to mutate on their own. However, there are some viruses like COVID-19, variants of which may be genetically distinct and cause very serious complications.
Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) viruses like SARS-CoV-2 are more prone to mutate than other viruses.
For instance, B.1.351 and B.1.1.7 variants were first found in the UK in September 2020. These were two of the initial strains of coronavirus, which are still the most predominant form of the deadly virus in several countries, including India.
With every mutation, the virus sees some particular genetic changes, which can potentially make the virus even more contagious and severe or vice versa. For instance, the KP.2 variant is thought to be fitter than the JN.1 variant. More studies are needed to understand the true nature of this virus. KP.2 variant is reportedly more contagious and may even be capable of escaping the vaccine-led immunity to some extent. Symptoms of illness are said to be similar to those caused by Omicron. The main reason for worry over the emergence of a particular strain of the virus is its ability to spread faster and the kind of attack it launches on the body of the infected. Notably, it is believed that virulent viruses are smarter than others as they have the ability to dodge some of the natural antibodies and cause severe damage to the high-risk group.
Interestingly, we must understand that not all the virus variants are as dangerous or cause severe damage as we have been discussing. The strains which are genetically traced or found to be variants of concern (VOCs) are believed to be more severe.
A big reason for concern for people has been the efficacy of currently available COVID-19 vaccines against the newly emerging virus strains like FLiRT variants that may have immune escape properties. Well, this is not entirely true. The new variants of SARS-CoV-2 may be smarter and more severe than the previous ones, but the vaccines we are taking may not become completely futile. A few lab-based studies have proven that the immune response triggered due to vaccines consists of several components and even when they are reduced, the vaccine response is not supposed to die entirely.
Updated COVID Vaccines are a solution to the constantly evolving viral strains. The idea is to make new vaccines by using the newer strains of the virus so that we may keep up with the pace of the changing virulence of the virus.
We surely are at a risk of facing future variants and mutations of the virus. Still, getting vaccinated and following the social distancing protocols set by the local authorities is the best we can do to protect ourselves.
Here are a few tips-
Some studies have proven that a fully vaccinated person is at low risk of suffering from severe complications and dying from a COVID-19 infection. In some cases, the vaccinated person has recovered quicker than others. Moreover, to tackle the upcoming strains of the virus, some booster shots may be introduced in future.
Many scientists are suggesting, instead of fearing the upcoming strains of the COVID-19, we should prepare a plan of action to keep our loved ones and ourselves safe. Getting vaccinated is the best we can do right now to save the world. The new strains will keep coming, at least for the foreseeable future. Hence, we should not let our guard down against this war against the deadly virus.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
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