Harianjogja.com, JAKARTA – From reducing the severity, hospitalization, and risk of death associated with emerging COVID-19 variants, current vaccines have proven effective and beneficial against COVID-19.
But how much do we know that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe in the long term? Could there be any potential long-term risks or side effects?
Findings of rare side effects, including myocarditis, inflammation of the heart, risk of blood clots, and neurological complications make many people wary of its use. Scientists and medical experts continue to support that the COVID-19 vaccine is not only safe to use but also counteracts the risk of COVID-19 infection.
Vaccine developers are still working to roll out a universal, more effective, and further improved version of the COVID-19 vaccine for now. Even so, the vaccine we have is equally promising and poses no risk in the long term.
Here are five reasons vaccines are safe in the long term as reported by the Times of India.
1. Vaccines are clinically tested to be effective in the long term
Like other vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccine has gone through a lot of research, development, and clinical trials. While the COVID-19 vaccine works to strengthen the body’s immune defenses and reduce the risk of infection, certain types of vaccines in some people have now been shown to be more effective, and able to provide long-term protection.
Recent evaluations have shown that the mRNA vaccine, which uses prototypes to create harmless fragments similar to spike proteins, is actually more potent than other vaccines at attaching antibodies long-term (perhaps even for life).
There are currently more vaccines under development, and it is ambitiously made to release an all-round vaccine that is improved and works against all variants of the coronavirus. Current vaccines have also been shown to be quite effective, and are very well tolerated.
2. If there are side effects, appear not long after vaccination
Cases of blood clots, myocarditis, or anaphylaxis, are some of the problems and adverse reactions. Some increased risk also comes with other vaccinations.
However, from what has been seen and documented, most of these serious side effects tend to appear a few weeks after vaccination. Therefore, side effects are not only manageable if diagnosed on time, there is no possibility of side effects that are detrimental to our health and well-being.
Moreover, the risks and severe side effects associated with the COVID-19 vaccine are less than the average reported across the general population. For example, the risk of severe blood clots with the COVID-19 infection itself.
3. Vaccines are safer to use than drugs
An argument often made by anti-vaxxers is that the COVID-19 vaccine is not safe for long-term use because the injection alters genetic DNA or causes significant changes that affect us. However, vaccines are relatively safer to use than some of the drugs we have.
Medications tend to carry some side effects and safety risks. Medicines need to be used for a longer period of time (regularly), whereas vaccines are usually injected once.
Drugs can often create long-term side effects that appear later but are still recommended for use and are beneficial for healthy living.
In comparison, vaccines cause reactogenic side effects, most of which are mild and manageable. After the vaccine is injected. Vaccines can train the immune system, secrete antibodies which then cause inflammation, a temporary reaction and decrease over time. Thus, the risk of long-term side effects is negligible and unheard of.
4. The long-term side effects of COVID infection are more consequential
Not only are long-term side effects with COVID-19 vaccination rarely heard of or known, but the risk of long-term complications and susceptibility to COVID-19 infection is also far-reaching. The benefits of vaccination, indeed, are relatively greater than the cons.
So far, COVID-19 has not only been associated with at least 100 different symptoms. From the prolonged risk of COVID, psychological damage, stress, heart health, digestive problems, fatigue, and other increased complications, COVID infection, can be very scary.
5. Evidence that vaccination against COVID works
Finally, it is important to note that while there is still a long way to go to immunizing a large part of the population, we have come a long way since the COVID-19 vaccine was first used.
While countries like UK and US started inoculation share in December 2020 (even earlier in Russia and China), India started vaccination efforts in January 2021. We have already crossed the 6 month mark, and are using real time data, and clinical studies.
Now, there is enough evidence to prove that the vaccine is highly effective, and poses no risk. The side effects, and benefits are also relatively safer with all vaccines used globally. Therefore, it is very important to allay fears and doubts about vaccination.
Source: Bisnis.com
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