By Dominick Rodrigues
Mumbai/Goa, Apr 26: “Vaccination is a savior for humanity and a weapon for pandemic control through providing immunity with barely 0.1% side-effects, preventing second time infection and decreasing chances of covid-19 hospitalization while significantly reducing the number of deaths due to COVID-19,” according to Dr Shekar Salkar, Consultant Oncologist at Manipal Hospital in Goa.
Dr. Salkar was speaking during a webinar on “COVID-19: Why Get Vaccinated?” organized today by the Press Information Bureau in collaboration with the Regional Outreach Bureau and the Dempo College of Commerce and Economics in Goa.
Urging people to take whatever vaccine is available, he said “All available vaccines are 99.99 percentage successful in prevention of deaths from COVID-19. However, both the doses of the vaccine have to be of the same vaccine.”
“In the US, almost 70 million people have been vaccinated till now — of which only 5,000 people have been infected after vaccination — and 78 patients succumbed to the virus. It means that the vaccines are more than 99.99% successful. The advent of the second wave is witnessing more people coming to get vaccinated and the Government and vaccine manufacturers are trying their best to ramp up production to meet this need,” Dr. Salkar said.
Emphasizing government guidelines against vaccination for pregnant women, lactating mothers and those subject to allergies’, Dr Salkar warned about endorsing or forwarding unverified news about vaccines on social media as many unsubstantiated and false suggestions about vaccines are doing the rounds.
To a query about duration of vaccine immunity, Dr. Salkar said latest data showed 6-8 months duration. “However, until a significant population gets vaccinated, we cannot afford to let our guard down, but have to wear masks in public places, maintain physical distancing and follow all Covid Appropriate Behaviour,” he said.
Replying to queries, Dr. Salkar said that in case a person tests positive after the first dose of vaccination, then the second dose is to be taken after 6 weeks of testing positive. Also, the first dose of the vaccine should be taken after 6 weeks from the date of testing positive in case of mild disease and home isolation patients, he said, adding that serious and hospitalized patients should wait for six weeks from the date of discharge from hospital.
To another query about taking the second dose after a longer than scheduled time-period, Dr. Salkar stated that antibodies may last even if the second dose is extended by 6 weeks to 3 months. “After taking the first dose, the chances of getting COVID-19 reduces by 65%, and after the second dose, it comes down by 80-90%”, he said, adding “Six weeks is the standard gap between two doses and people should not miss the second dose on designated date.”
Speaking about side-effects like discoloration, rashes on skin, heaviness of hands, Dr Salkar said, “There are treatments available for these side-effects which are not life-threatening. Thus, vaccination should not be avoided as it saves people from death.”
About blood-clots after taking vaccine, Dr. Salkar said “Sometimes people on blood-thinners, Acitrom or Warfarin may get Hematoma. Don’t rub (the point of injecting the vaccine), but just hold tight for atleast 5 minutes,” he added.
