The development of the COVID-19 vaccine has been one of the most awaited news since the onset of the unprecedented pandemic era. The Indian Ministry of Health Family and Welfare (MoHFW) announced the third phase of the COVID vaccination drive from 1st May 2021, wherein all adults above the age of 18 years can take the COVID-19 vaccine.
Q1. Should I take the vaccine if I have previously recovered from COVID-19?
Yes, you should take the vaccine after 3 months from the date of complete recovery.
Q2. Can patients suffering from Hepatitis B take the vaccine?
Yes, but you should inform the doctors at the vaccination site about their medical history.
After being vaccinated, some side effects are normal and expected. Side effects are a sign that your body is building immune protection. Common side effects observed with COVID-19 vaccines include: Some pain, swelling and redness on the arm where you received the vaccine.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
Q3. Is it safe for chronic blood pressure patients to get the vaccine?
Yes, there are numerous blood pressure patients during the initial stage of the drive where people with comorbidities were preferred and vaccinated.
Q4. What are the common side effects after taking the vaccine?
Common side effects like pain at the site of injection, slight fever, chills and fatigue are mild and temporary and get resolved over a short span of time.
Booster doses are meant to remind the immune system how to respond to viruses or bacteria, so a response can be hard-wired, a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine enhances the antibody response and maintains strong protection.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.
Q5. Can I still take the vaccine if I am down with a cold or fever?
You should avoid taking the vaccine until you have fully recovered from the fever.
Q6. What happens if I get COVID after the first dose of the vaccine?
You will have to quarantine yourself and commence treatment and after you have recovered, you have to wait for 3 months for the second dose from the day of complete recovery.
Q7. Can cardiac patients take the vaccine?
Since most cardiac patients are on regular blood-thinning medication, they should always consult a cardiologist before taking the vaccine.
Q8. After how many days can I expect to develop immunity against COVID-19?
You can expect to develop the required antibodies for fighting COVID-19 after 2-3 weeks of taking the second dose of the vaccine.
With the widespread reach of fake news and myths in the current age of social media, the COVID-19 vaccines have received their fair share of antagonisms. The vaccines are safe and effective for all people above the age of 18 years.
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.
Since May 1st, 2021, the Government of India has opened up vaccines for those between the ages of 18 and 44. From that day onwards, anyone 18+ could get themselves registered on the CoWIN website to set up an appointment for getting vaccinated. However, due to shortages in the supply of vaccines, people often found that they weren’t able to get confirmed bookings for that elusive shot.
Many people have been confused and frustrated in the past few days over this issue. PharmEasy spoke to one person in this 18+ category who persevered and managed to get through these hurdles and successfully got vaccinated. Here is what he has to say about the whole experience –
I went to the Cowin website and got registered, then it was a waiting game. I followed ”mybmc” (Bombay Municipal Corp) on Twitter constantly as they regularly post information on slots opening, centres, etc. So, I was up to date on the latest information. 10 mins before the website opened I was ready. Based on the information I gathered from following mybmc on Twitter, I was able to quickly select an appointment time and confirm. In that sense it was hassle-free.
I simply selected from the website for the available slot and confirmed it.
I reached the vaccination centre half an hour later than my scheduled time. I had to carry a soft copy/hard copy of my Aadhaar card and show it upon arrival. Then one receives a pre-printed slip and proceeds forward. 2 nurses were there to guide me during the procedure. After getting the vaccine I was sent to the observation room and was there for 30 minutes.
If pregnant, getting a COVID-19 vaccine can protect from severe illness from COVID-19. The vaccines do not cause infection in pregnant people or babies, getting vaccinated doesn’t cause any harm and is found to be very safe.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.
Though I was late, the whole process went pretty smoothly.
I experienced some of the normal side effects and got a fever, and body ache, cold and cough that night. But by the next day, I was perfectly fine and got back to my normal routine.
Well about 10:30 pm – 11 pm I had a fever and body ache. The next morning I felt weak but my temperature was back to normal. I was given a strip of paracetamol to manage these symptoms. I advise all those reading this to please stay hydrated, have proper food and for at least 4 days after getting vaccinated, avoid drinking or smoking.
The normal Covid-19 protocols, staying home, keeping up a healthy diet, wearing a mask and maintaining social distance as per usual.
While there are bound to be technical issues with the website and getting a slot booked, don’t give up and try your best. Keep an eye out for local news from official sources regarding slots and timings, be patient and keep at it.
Everyone needs to get vaccinated as soon as possible, especially the older citizens as well as those who are at high risk. The sooner we get people vaccinated, the faster India will be able to fight and overcome COVID-19! Wear a mask, maintain social distance and keep following the normal COVID-19 guidelines to protect yourself and those around you.
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 current death toll in Maharashtra having crossed 61,000 and the existing cases of COVID-19 in the state being more than 40 lakhs, the entire state has declared a ‘Break-the-chain’ initiative. Let’s take a look at some of the key points of contact for the people of Mumbai during these dire times.
The state of Maharashtra has designated several hospitals and treatment facilities to help patients affected with COVID-19 in Mumbai and most of these have a decent rate of bed availability as well. Here’s a list of all such hospitals in Mumbai:
The Government of Maharashtra has assigned several public hospitals as designated COVID-19 vaccination centres. A list of some of the government, as well as private vaccination centres with the best medical facilities in Mumbai, are given below:
Some of the key organisations that are currently providing donors for plasma therapy and facilitating direct contact of the families of patients with donors, are Team SOS, Dhoondh, PlasmaDonor.in, PINT, PlasmaLine.in, GiveRed.in, SimplyBlood.com, CityDonors.com and NDTV Plasma Drive.
The availability of this crucial medicine that is being used in the treatment of patients suffering from COVID-19 has been tough, to say the least. Due to the massive surge in COVID-19 cases in the state, there are only a few medicine distributors who have the availability of Remdesivir in their stock. Some of these distributors can be contacted by phone:
Due to the rising COVID-19 cases, the use of public transportation will be limited to medical staff and government employees only, while people visiting other districts and cities are being marked and compelled to undergo a 14 day home quarantine.
Coming to the recent lockdown and movement restrictions imposed by the Government of Maharashtra, the Mumbai Police have initiated an ingenious system of colour-coded stickers to put on vehicles who are travelling for essential services. The red colour sticker is to be used by all those who are travelling to the hospital or for any other health emergency. The yellow sticker is to be used for any other essential services, while the green colour sticker is to be used for travelling to the grocery store or delivering food items.
Many government and private agencies are providing transportation facilities to hospitals in case of emergencies and the people of Mumbai can avail of these ambulance services by contacting the providers given below:
The chart given below contains the contact numbers of doctors who have taken up the initiative of telephonic guidance during different times of the day.
| Name of Doctor | Contact Number | Time of Consultation |
| Dr Tushar Shah | 9321469911 | 8 am to 12 pm |
| Dr M Bhatt | 9320407074 | 8 am to 12 pm |
| Dr D Doshi | 9820237951 | 8 am to 12 pm |
| Dr G Kamath | 9136575405 | 12 pm to 4 pm |
| Dr S Manglik | 9820222384 | 12 pm to 4 pm |
| Dr J Jain | 7021092685 | 12 pm to 4 pm |
| Dr N Zaveri | 9321489748 | 4 pm to 8 pm |
| Dr S Ansari | 7045720278 | 4 pm to 8 pm |
| Dr L Kedia | 9321470560 | 4 pm to 8 pm |
| Dr N Kuma | 8104605550 | 8 pm to 11 pm |
| Dr P Bhargav | 9833887603 | 8 pm to 11 pm |
| Dr R Chauhan | 9892135010 | 8 pm to 11 pm |
Since the lockdown began in March 2020 and officially ended around June to July 2020, people have been forced indoors and this has resulted in the development of several mental health issues. The BMC has taken a bold step by providing a mental health helpline number (which is: 1800 120 820 050) to such people.
The Maharashtra Government as well as several local municipal bodies have undertaken the initiative to provide consultation and relief to the people with the help of several helpline numbers that are currently active across the state.
The Government of Maharashtra has announced a technical lockdown except for public transport and essential services from 22nd April to 1st May 2021. Moreover, similar curbs have also been placed on both public and private offices within Maharashtra till 1st May 2021 as a response to the rising cases of COVID-19 within the state.
With this information at hand, you will be better equipped to deal with any COVID-related emergency. Stay safe and take necessary precautionary measures.
Remember to knock out every obstacle that comes in the way of keeping you healthy.
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.
The second wave of COVID-19 has gripped the country and we all need to come together in order to put the pandemic behind us. The best contribution we all can make together in these trying times is to get everyone vaccinated as soon as possible. The Government of India has invited the participation of private companies to accelerate vaccination across the country. From 1st May 2021, all legal adults (above the age of 18) have become eligible to get vaccinated.
PharmEasy’s motto has been ”Simplifying Healthcare & Impacting Lives”. In order to support the country in fighting the pandemic, we are launching the biggest COVID-19 vaccination drive. With this drive, we plan to do our humble bit in furthering the clarion call of ”Teeka Utsav” given by our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, to immunize the country, at an accelerated pace.
We aim to vaccinate over 3 crore families via 5,000 partner centres, PAN India in the next few quarters. We will leverage our presence across India, with over 80,000 partner retailers, 5,000 doctors and a state-of-the-art pharma supply chain facility enabling last-mile delivery of cold chain products.
We have been overwhelmed with the response so far. Over 50 lakh individuals and 750 organisations have already made a soft commitment to vaccinate themselves and their respective families in the last 24 hours alone, with many more joining us each minute.
PharmEasy invites all Individuals, Housing Societies, Corporates, Registered Welfare Associations and NGOs to register for the vaccine using the following link: Registration Link.
Once you register, our team will update you about the same as soon as the vaccine doses are available in your vicinity, along with other relevant details about the date and location of the vaccination centre.
Some crucial information pertaining to the drive:
Vaccination is the only way of putting the pandemic behind us. Let us all come together, get vaccinated and be a part of COVID-free India soon.
Post-registration, we will reach out to you regularly through SMS, email or voice calls. Sadly we will not be able to take any inbound calls regarding the vaccination drive and you will have to wait for us to get back to you, given the sheer scale of the effort we are undertaking. Disclaimer: Please note that registering with us does not guarantee you a slot immediately. While we will try to get as many vaccinations done as possible, we might not be able to serve everyone, given the extensive registrations we are witnessing. You’ll be contacted once a vaccination centre opens up in your area and we are able to get you a slot. We are not charging any fee for online registration, nor will anyone from our team reach out to you for any kind of payments/advances. In the meanwhile, we do not want to stop anyone from registering with any other vaccination centres and getting yourselves and your loved ones vaccinated. The vaccines will only be provided in line with the GOI guidelines which will be released soon.
You need to know that it is equally important to take care of your health. Therefore, stay ahead and book a test.
In the face of rising COVID cases and the second wave of the pandemic, it was announced that all adults in India, above 18 years of age, will now be able to receive the COVID vaccine.
This coronavirus vaccine update has been welcomed by both the healthcare industry as well as the common people. At this juncture, if more and more people get vaccinated, it would be easy to bring the second wave under control and reduce the severity of the predicted third wave.
Phase 1 of the COVID vaccination plan included all people above age 60 as well as people with comorbidities who were allowed to apply for the vaccine. Phase 2 covered everyone aged 45 years and above. Phase 3 is rolling out since the 1st of May. All legal adults (18 years and above) will now be able to register themselves as beneficiaries of the COVID vaccine. Walk-in vaccination has also been allowed now i.e. a person can go to the vaccination centre directly without prior registration or appointment on a digital platform.
The nationwide vaccination drive has now been taken up by the central government. The centralised free vaccination policy has now begun, under this the government will provide free COVID-19 vaccine to all Indian citizens above 18 years of age and the Centre would procure 75 percent of vaccines and give them to states for free distribution to all citizens above the age of 18. This will speed up the procurement procedure.
Private hospitals will receive 25% of vaccines which can be availed after the required payment by the eligible candidates.
Even after you get the COVID vaccine, you must not stop following the COVID protocol. Wearing masks and sanitizing will continue to be important parts of your daily routine because the coronavirus is constantly evolving and new strains could arrive against which our vaccines might not be as effective. Another great way to stay safe is to boost your immunity while staying home.
It is not yet known how long the COVID vaccines will be effective. Unless we have a few more answers, COVID vaccines and precautions will together keep you safe.
Have you taken your shot of vaccination? If yes, then take good care of your health!
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 has been vaccinating lakhs of people since March. Very soon, vaccines will be available for everyone above 18 years, irrespective of age groups or comorbidities. This brings us to hope at a time when COVID-19 has reared its ugly head again.
What comes as a piece of even more interesting news is that a new kind of medication may soon hit the markets. It’s called the intranasal vaccine for COVID-19.
So what is the intranasal COVID-19 vaccine, can it be trusted and should you opt for it? Let us answer all your questions.
Intranasal vaccine for COVID-19 is a type of nasal spray/drop like the kind you use when you have a clogged nose. The formulation, of course, is different.
The nasal mucous is the first line of defence and hence very immuno-efficient. Viruses have to breach this wall to enter your body and that is why this membrane is always on high alert. Studies have found that a small dose of antigen delivered into the nasal mucosa can trigger a rapid and powerful immune response.
So, scientists have formulated the intranasal COVID vaccine. You have to pour a drop or spray into each nostril to help generate antibodies to fight the coronavirus.
First of all, it can be administered by the individual. Secondly, the intranasal vaccine is noninvasive and is not meant to be injected. Also, the intranasal vaccine can boost broad immune response. It is essential to stop both the infection as well as transmission of COVID-19. It is suitable and safe for children and eliminates the risk of needle-related infections and pain. Intranasal vaccines can also be produced in larger batches than other forms of COVID vaccines.
The intranasal vaccine can neutralize and generate a quick immune response at the mucosal membrane and stop the further spread of the virus.
Until the intranasal vaccine is made available, continue to maintain all possible COVID precautions. Wear masks, sanitize your hands and try to maintain social distancing. If you are a senior citizen or have comorbidities, consider getting vaccinated as early as possible.
Also Read: What are Adenoids? A Comprehensive Overview of Their Function and Importance
Take a shot and stay fit.
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.
The fight against coronavirus has been going on for more than a year now. We have been living a life of restrictions since March 2020. It was a very difficult year for every one of us. We were constantly hoping that the ‘curve would be flattened’ any day. But every day we only read reports of increasing case-count and death toll.
Just when it seemed that we had lost all hope, in January 2021, the Union Health Minister announced that the COVID graph has finally been flattened with 146 districts not having reported any fresh cases in a week.
This news came in conjunction with the onset of COVID vaccination in India. And we all greeted this update with a happy sigh.
But maybe our happiness is short-lived. There is an indication that COVID might rear its head again. Here’s what has been happening recently-
In simple terms YES u can get infected with Covid even after your are vaccinated fully. COVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing illness from COVID-19, especially severe illness, hospitalizations and death that is they reduce the severity of the disease.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
The dwindling rate of new COVID infections did not continue for long. On 2nd February, India recorded its lowest ever number of new infections in a day (8635).
But soon after, the caseload began to rise again. And by February 18th, the number of fresh cases rose to 12881 and may continue to increase over the next few days.
When COVID struck for the first time back in early 2020, Mumbai was one of the worst-hit cities. The same pattern is emerging again.
Mumbai has witnessed a steady rise in the number of infections. Municipality officials are traversing the length and breadth of Mumbai to understand the gravity of the situation. In just one day, the case-count went up by nearly 260 new cases. Despite the alarming new trend, Mumbai’s recovery rate continues to be 94% and patients are steadily being discharged.
Officials are considering reintroducing certain restrictions such as strict quarantine and regulation of movement in housing societies. Police have urged people to exercise caution and minimize going out.
While COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against serious disease and death, no vaccine is 100% effective. As a result, vaccinated people can get infected and may fall ill with COVID-19 despite being up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines and any booster doses recommended for their priority-use group.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.
New mutant strains of COVID are much more infectious than the original coronavirus and have spread across the world and even arrived in India. Even so, the global case count has dropped by 16%. Vaccination is underway. But 130 countries are still to receive the COVID vaccine. The UN is in the process of procuring vaccines for everyone. Major vaccine producers will do their part to ensure that no country is left out.
The only way to defeat COVID and keep everyone safe is through vaccination. More than 94 lakh people have been vaccinated already. We are still in the stage of providing the vaccine to high-risk beneficiaries such as healthcare professionals, and frontline workers. Very soon, India will move to the next stage and start vaccinating people above 50 years of age.
So, now more than ever before when we are close to winning the war against COVID, we have to be cautious. We cannot relax the pandemic restrictions because if we do, the case count will spiral again. So, continue sanitizing, mask-wearing and social distancing and get the COVID shot when your turn comes.
Your health is in your own hands, so, take charge of it.
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.
The ongoing war against the COVID pandemic is about to end soon. Across the world, several vaccines have been invented that have proved to be effective against the COVID. In India, 2 vaccines have been given emergency approval and vaccination has already been rolled out. Soon enough we will all be receiving the COVID vaccine. This brings with it the hope that there will be fewer COVID casualties and we will be able to rebuild our economies.
In the midst of all this, another bit of news has been making the rounds that might dampen your happy spirits. The emergence of a new coronavirus mutation in the B117 strain is triggering significant anxiety in the scientific community.
What are scientists worried about? Read on to find out.
Towards the end of 2020, we came to know about a new strain of coronavirus called the UK virus of B117. It made headlines across the world and forced a fresh round of restrictions and lockdown in Britain. Flights to the UK were temporarily suspended, all because the new B117 strain is extremely contagious.
Several other strains were found in South Africa, Brazil, the USA, and Japan that were believed to have originated from B117.
But scientists soon discovered that though the B117 strain is more contagious, that does not mean that it is more dangerous than the other strains of COVID. The COVID vaccines were expected to be effective against the B117.
But recently, new studies have found something alarming, something that is making scientists lose their sleep.
For many months now scientists have been studying all mutations that the coronavirus undergoes. It is the nature of any virus to evolve.
The focus of the research has been directed primarily to understanding the mutation of the spike protein. These spikes are used by the virus to attach itself to the healthy host cell.
The mutation in the spike structure of the coronavirus, helps the virus to attach more efficiently to the host cell. When our bodies develop immunity through either infection or vaccination, the antibodies are responsible to fight against the viruses in the host cells. But the mutation of the spike region will help the virus escape the antibodies.
This suggests that the antibodies developed in response to the earlier strain of coronavirus may not be as effective against the new mutated strain.
And this is exactly the kind of mutation that scientists have observed in samples of B117 strain They have named this new mutation as the ‘escape mutation’
The first thing that will come to your mind after learning about the new coronavirus mutation is will the vaccines work? And people who have already overcome the COVID infection might also be wondering if the antibodies they produced in response to the virus will prevent another infection.
Scientists don’t have clear answers to these questions. Immunity is a complex system. There are several different kinds of antibodies that our immune system produces and different antibodies attack different parts of the virus. So the effectiveness of the COVID vaccine will depend on how much our body depends on those antibodies that attack the spike protein region of the coronavirus.
Researchers will need to study the coronavirus mutation in greater detail before they can come up with an answer.
Continue maintaining social distancing, and regular sanitization. Wear your mask at all times when you are outside your home. Once your turn comes, get vaccinated. Even post-vaccination you must follow the COVID protocol. This is the best you can do at this moment.
Updates regarding coronavirus will keep coming. This is a virus that is difficult to understand. Even though the COVID vaccine is your best shot at a normal life, our safety lies in being responsible and doing the right thing at the right 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.
Several vaccines against the dreaded COVID-19 are now gradually being made available across the globe. However, you may be wondering whether the risk of taking any vaccine may outweigh the benefits since the vaccines currently available haven’t been tested as rigorously as per usual protocol.
Read on about the vaccine side effects people have experienced so far after taking the COVID-19 vaccine, so you can make a more informed decision, once the vaccine is made available to you.
Certain reactions after any vaccination are normal such as redness, pain and swelling at and around the injection site and are no reflection on the vaccine effectiveness. Symptoms such as fever, tiredness, aching limbs and headache are also often observed in the first few days of the vaccine.
Rare vaccine side effects such as allergic shocks have also been reported in isolated cases.
While these are the general side effects that have been observed across vaccines, there are certain differences in the risks and side effects that each vaccine separately poses. Let’s examine the same:
While most patients suffered nothing more than the usual vaccine side effects such as fever and headache symptoms, there were isolated incidences of allergic shocks in persons who took the Biontech-Pfizer vaccine. However, a couple of British patients and an American patient even went into anaphylactic shock, symptoms of which include reddening of the skin and shortness of breath.
However, a more tragic reaction to the vaccine was faced in Norway as 33 citizens over the age of 75, who also had severe underlying diseases, passed away only a few days after taking the vaccine.
Whilst there were rare instances of allergic reactions and other vaccine side effects caused due to the Moderna Vaccine, only in 10 cases did the patients go into an anaphylactic shock. Fortunately, there were no deaths reported. However, a small percentage of the patients who took Moderna did experience facial nerve paralysis, albeit a majority of these cases were temporary.
The AstraZeneca vaccine has proven to be one of the milder and safer vaccines so far, with most patients only reporting normal COVID vaccine side effects such as pain at the injection site, headache, fatigue, etc.
So far, only typical COVID vaccine side effects such as headache, fever, etc. have been reported by those who have taken the Russian Sputnik vaccine even though this vaccine underwent the least number of trials.
The vaccine developed by homegrown brand Bharat Biotech, has been safely administered to millions of frontline workers in India. While most subjects have only shown normal vaccine side effects of headache, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting, according to the pharma giant- in extremely rare cases, severe allergic reactions such as breathlessness, swelling of the face, body rash etc. may also occur. Despite these vaccine side effects, you should get vaccinated. The COVID vaccine has the potential to save your life and the lives of others. So when the time comes, register on CoWIN and become a beneficiary to receive the vaccine.
This vaccine has been developed by the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, to prevent COVID-19 in individuals 18 years of age and older. The most common side effects are pain in the injection site, redness, swelling and fever. These usually occur within a day or two after getting the vaccine. However, people taking this vaccine, especially women aged below 50 must be aware of the rare risk of blood clots with low platelets after vaccination.
ZyCoV-D developed in partnership with the Department of Biotechnology uses Plasmid DNA technology. It is an intradermal Covid-19 vaccine administered with the help of a needle-free applicator and shows no severe side effects.
Read more about: Difference between Covaxin vs Covishield Vaccine
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.
For almost a year, the world has been struggling with a pandemic the likes of which have seldom been recorded in history. 2020 was a terrible year for almost all of us. But towards the end of the year, it seemed like the battle was about to be won.
The coronavirus live update stated that vaccines were being given emergency approval in many countries of the world, including India. Then came another coronavirus news regarding the rise of a new COVID strain- the B117 virus or the UK virus. It also has reached India.
And worryingly, many other countries, in their coronavirus updates, are reporting cases of a mutated coronavirus. Are they different from the UK virus, or almost the same? Let us look into it.
In September 2020, coronavirus news coming from Britain said that the country has recorded a new COVID strain. The B117 virus has the same protein structure as the regular coronavirus but is 70% more contagious even though it is not more dangerous.
In the last few days, a few more countries have found evidence of a new coronavirus strain.
Authorities at Japan’s National Institute Of Infectious Diseases told the press that they have detected a new COVID strain in 4 travellers coming in from Brazil. According to their coronavirus updates, initial studies have confirmed that it is a different strain compared to the UK virus even though there are some similar changes in their genetic structural makeup. Studies are ongoing to determine its symptoms and whether the coronavirus vaccine will be effective against it.
Brazil had witnessed one of the highest mortality rates from COVID. Way back in July 2020, some scientists realised that a new strain of COVID had mutated in Brazil. They called it the B1128 strain. In December 2020, judging by the coronavirus updates released by the authorities, it began to spread rapidly. As of now, the new COVID strain is restricted to Rio de Janeiro. There is no proof that this strain is deadlier or more infectious than the regular SARS-CoV.
The USA coronavirus variant is a little different from the UK strain. It is possibly a further mutation of the B117 virus and 50% more transmissible than the regular SARS-Cov.
The reason why so many variants of COVID keep arising because The virus has not settled into a predictable pattern. It continues to evolve. Omicron is the variant of concern that remains dominant worldwide and there are still more than 600 sublineages of Omicron that are in circulation. One of the variants that is now in India as of April 2023 is XBB1.16 variant of omicron or called as arcutus strain.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
Analysis of the new COVID strain from South Africa has revealed that the 501.V2 variant (that’s what South Africa’s new variant of coronavirus is being called) has undergone many mutations which means that there could be several versions of 501.V2.
But the good news is that when scientists tested Pfizer’s vaccine against the new COVID-19 mutants, the COVID-19 vaccine was found to be effective.
The South African variant has already reached Austria and Norway via travellers.
According to COVID-19 news from Mexico, Brazil’s new COVID strain has been found in a 56-year-old man in Mexico City. It may have spread to others he had come in contact with. Since this COVID strain has been found to be very contagious, authorities are doing everything possible to curb its spread.
The new coronavirus strain spreading like wildfire in Australia is actually the UK virus and has close links with the Brazil virus. In fact, it has been so contagious that Brisbane had to be locked down.
Concerns always linger around with newer variants of covid as they are usually very unpredictable in terms of their contagiousness and mortality. We may not know how the virus might change or evolve with newer strains and if it is better at infecting people or causing higher hospitalizations.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D.
All these new COVID mutants bear a resemblance. The spike protein is not all that different from the coronavirus against which the COVID vaccine is effective. Already quite a few studies have found that the coronavirus vaccine works against the new mutations. However, further studies will be required.
Scientists themselves have many unanswered questions regarding the new COVID strains. But all of them agree that right now COVID precautions are our best line of defence. So let us follow these in our everyday lives.
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