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This week it was learned that the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance allowed the vaccination of university students-older than 18 years. With this endorsement, the educational institutions began to vaccinate the students, while others chose to seek alternative positions. Considering that statistically contagions in Guatemala are higher between the ages of 20 and 29, the epidemiologist Erwin Calgua resolved some doubts of interest to this group and the application of the vaccine against Covid-19.
Most of the infections have been in ages 20 to 39 years: 93,313 in people 20 to 29; 88,824 in people from 30 to 39 years old until July 29. “Now that vaccination is being expanded is when they most have to take care of themselves, not like young people who think they can already have meetings, especially because of variants like Delta. I cannot speak officially for the ministry, but clinically we suspect that this variant is already in the country, as well as the Lambda that comes from Peru, “said the epidemiologist at the San Juan de Dios General Hospital.
He also stressed that, unlike last year, “we see younger people who believe they are immune to the disease. At a global level we are very vulnerable; I do not want to be pessimistic, but we are far from being controlled, for the same reason we have to maintain the measures while it happens ”.
The #MSPAS reports the number of people who have received the first dose and the complete schedule of the vaccine against #COVID19. #PlanVacunaCOVID19
Check here the data that is updated every 24 hours ???? https://t.co/g7sm9SC2Gf pic.twitter.com/u31toxjguP
– Ministry of Public Health (@MinSaludGuate) July 29, 2021
THE “SIDE EFFECTS” OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE
The epidemiologist explained that after applying the vaccine two effects can be expected: reactogenicity and adverse effects. Reactogenicity refers to the body’s response to the vaccine, among these he described headache, general malaise, “the sensations of a flu”, pain in the arm, fatigue and sleep. On the other hand, there are adverse effects, that is, reactions that must be consulted before their detection and can present risks.
Regarding adverse effects, he commented that for the Moderna vaccine “it is labeled that it can cause pericarditis or myocarditis after getting the vaccine, this is an inflammation of the heart, a lining that it has. If a person begins to feel pain in the chest, inflammation, respiratory distress, although it is not the usual thing, he should go immediately to check it with a doctor ”.
For the AstraZeneca, on the other hand, “if bruises begin to appear that he did not have, if he begins to have shortness of breath, pain in his legs, especially in women under 49 years of age, there is the rare possibility that he may develop a associated thrombosis; It is rare and rare, but you always have to be vigilant ”.
“Sputnik so far has not reported the adverse effects that the others have had, at least with the first dose it has not been detected,” added the professional.
Reactogenicity, as explained by the doctor, can develop within hours of administering the vaccine up to 72 hours later; while the adverse effects can develop between the fourth day until the month after receiving the immunizer. Erwin Calgua indicated that “there is no limitation in terms of physical activity after the vaccine.”
CONSUMPTION OF MEDICINES BEFORE AND AFTER THE VACCINE
For the reactogenicity of any vaccine against Covid-19, the doctor recommended consuming acetaminophen, ibuprofen or antiallergic drugs nothing else. On the other hand, he explained that “there is no reason to stop any drug for the vaccine”, be it drugs or biologics, this applies “in relation to drugs that must be administered due to morbidity, be it mental, heart, or kidney health.”
However, he mentioned that for cancer patients or kidney transplants they may be under consumption of immunosuppressants, these “may affect not the vaccine, but the degree of development of antibodies that try to develop defenses.” For these cases, he recommended consulting an expert before acquiring steroid immunization; He recalled that no vaccine contains the active virus. In the same way, he reported that “with contraceptives there is no alert, as far as is known, to get the vaccine.”
CONSUMPTION OF NARCOTICS AND THE VACCINE
Calgua highlighted that there are currently no proven reports on the effect of drugs or alcohol on the efficacy of the vaccine, since clinical trials are not carried out with people under the influence of narcotics, “but the fact that there is no such evidence does not mean that do no harm ”.
“That it can influence the potential to interact, it could be theoretically but has not been proven so far. It is best to abstain from alcohol and drugs for clearly established health reasons, because you do not want something to interfere with the vaccine that your immune system is trying to generate. Better if it doesn’t, ”he said.
WHAT ABOUT SOFT DRINKS OR BLACK TEA?
For specific drinks such as coffee, cola, sodas and black tea, the doctor said that “they are all stimulants, I’m not going to call it a drug, even sugar is a stimulant, but specifically for the Covid-19 vaccine there is no indication that someone cannot drink a soda, no adverse reaction has been reported when drinking coffee or any stimulant of this type “.
CAN SOMEONE WHO HAD OR HAS COVID-19 GET VACCINATED?
Although there is no consensus at the global level, the epidemiologist shared that the recommendation is generally for mild cases already cured to wait the 14 days of quarantine and another fourteen additional days before acquiring the vaccine against Sars-CoV2. On the other hand, for moderate, severe and critical already recovered cases “these should be evaluated and consulted with the doctor at the time of discharge and it is normally recommended between one month to three months, depending on different factors” such as the handling of medications or biologicals.
WHAT HAPPENS IF AN ACTIVE PATIENT GETS VACCINED?
“The absolute contraindication of the vaccine is to be with an active Covid infection,” said Dr. Calgua, since there is a risk of enhancing the immune reaction; the immune reaction is enhanced, but not the defense against the virus. “We have had people who have come to sick vaccination centers, thinking that with the vaccine they will be cured; This is very dangerous and people have had to return to vaccination centers who go with that idea. For people who are suspecting they have Covid, better not go near the vaccination centers, they can get worse, “warned the epidemiologist.
“If you are thinking of getting vaccinated, my recommendation is that you refrain from having meetings two weeks before. Because this is what has happened, they meet, they go to be vaccinated and a few days after being vaccinated they develop the disease; Anecdotally, we know that this is very frequent and this is due to an oversight days before getting vaccinated ”, he emphasized.
IN HOW LONG DOES THE VACCINE “GO ON”?
The expert explained that the immunogenicity of any vaccine against Covid-19 will develop 3 to 4 weeks after applying the dose, that is, protection is guaranteed until that period of time passes. “Immunogenicity is expected with the first dose that occurs between the third or fourth week for 50 or 60% protection to occur. It does not happen immediately; This is very important because people think that immediately when they get the vaccine they have defenses and it is not like that ”, he explained.
He added that with the second dose of the vaccine or the booster application of any vaccine, more than 90% effectiveness is obtained and “immunogenicity is reached after the second dose at least up to two weeks later.”
OTHER QUESTIONS
LH: Should you have sexual abstinence?
EC: Of course you can continue with a healthy life from a sexual point of view.
LH: Is it counterproductive to get a tattoo or piercing after getting the vaccine?
EC: It is no problem to get a tattoo right away. The tattoo are punctures in the dermis, superficially, but it does not inject anything into the muscle; until now there is no contraindication immediately after the vaccine.
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