In the fight against the ravaging virus causing the COVID-19 pandemic, what would you prefer to protect yourself? A face mask or a vaccine? Several months have gone by since the lockdown in 2019 following the surge of new cases and deaths from the dreaded virus. Everything seemingly went back to normal after the lockdown but events have evolved so rapidly in the last few weeks. Virtually every day, we hear of someone dying; someone from the COVID-19 and others from other illnesses. The second wave is here, right here in Nigeria, and probably a deadlier strain. What are we doing about it?
I had an interesting encounter a few days ago. After
leaving work, I discovered I needed to withdraw some money from the ATM. I
parked my car outside the bank and walked into the premises. It was after
office hours. Next, I was accosted by three security guards who asked about my
face mask. Now all of them were wearing their masks on their chins. I
immediately returned to my car without a fuss, picked my mask and wore it.
However, I couldn’t help asking the guards, “why are other persons in the same
premises (apparently bank staff) not wearing any masks”? I also questioned,
“why are you wearing your masks on your chin rather than on your noses and
mouths”? One of the guards retorted,” Is it possible to wear this mask on one’s
nose 24/7? What would be your response? What protective tool would work for you
all day long without duress?
Risky Lifestyle and Behaviour
When another person dies from the COVID-19 virus, it
should reawaken the sense of responsibility for oneself and others by adhering
to the safety protocols that help guide against the spread of the virus. This
entails wearing your face mask correctly, hand hygiene, and avoiding crowded,
tight spaces but is this enough?
Practically everyone seems to be flaunting these
rules. Chin-masks, hand-shakes, hugs, parties, supposedly COVID-negative
individuals crossing borders with false COVID-19 results, denial of the
existence of the virus and the list of risky behaviour grows longer. Should we
call this ignorance or irresponsibility?
How about unhealthy lifestyles which are linked to
chronic non-communicable diseases also referred to as lifestyle-related
diseases resulting in poor immunity? Comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes and
heart disease worsen the outcomes of the COVID-19 infection and these are
preventable. Behavioural change certainly does not come easily.
On the other hand, our front-liners in the medical
field; doctors, nurses are more at risk for contracting the disease and dying.
Worse still is the poor access to care following a diagnosis of the COVID-19
disease. Getting to the hospital and not getting prompt attention because of
the overwhelmed medical staff and over-stretched facilities including oxygen.
Is there another solution to fighting this disease? Could it possibly be the
COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccine-Preventable Deaths (VPDs) are numerous. They are largely communicable illnesses that can be easily transmitted from one person to the other through close contact, inhalation of spores, and also during pregnancy. Some Vaccine-preventable diseases include:
Tetanus
Polio
Measles
Mumps
Rubella
Pertussis (Whooping cough)
Diphtheria
Cholera
Typhoid
Chickenpox
Yellow fever
Rabies
Flu (Haemophilus influenzae)
Vaccines are not new. Vaccines have been around for
ages now and are known to save millions of lives from preventable deaths every
year.
Vaccines have the potential to eradicate VPDs. Over
time, the high coverage of several communities with vaccines against VPDs has
blocked their transmission resulting in fewer deaths. The smallpox vaccine led
to the eradication of smallpox and polio has almost been eradicated because of
the polio vaccine.
The goal of developing the COVID-19 vaccine is to
diffuse the toxic effects of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. According to the World
Health Organisation, more than 50 COVID-19 vaccine candidates are in clinical
trials. Although a lot of work is underway with these trials, there is
sufficient data to help the vaccine agencies to monitor and quickly detect any
safety issues with the vaccine. The goal is to degrade the virus such that it
is unable to cause symptoms that go beyond the mild flu.
Vaccines are mostly safe. Side-effects could occur
on taking any vaccine but this is a normal sign that indicates your body is
building its immunity. These side-effects are usually mild and short-lived.
Several individuals are scared of taking the new vaccine because of the
possibility of adverse effects. A video of a nurse who supposedly came down
with Bell’s Palsy (a condition that leads to a droop on a side of the face)
went viral some weeks ago, scaring people more.
It is important to know that direct contact with
several viruses can lead to Bell’s palsy without even taking the vaccine.
However, it is an uncommon illness and is less likely to be a common adverse
effect of the COVID-19 vaccine. The Bell’s facial palsy is usually reversible
and the benefits of taking the vaccine is likely to far outweigh the risks.
Conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 vaccine are
questionable and have no basis. Such theories were postulated during the
Spanish flu pandemic, the swine flu outbreak, the smallpox pandemic and several other outbreaks. The safety of the COVID-19 vaccine is a top priority
of the WHO and other health agencies responsible for approving the COVID-19
vaccine. As a result, medico-legal consequences could arise if any of these
agencies ignore the medical ethics guiding the development, distribution, and
vaccination process.
Access to vaccination does not preclude the adoption
of general hygiene. The first thoughts that may come to mind are that once
COVID-19 is eradicated, we can go back to our old ways. However, what exactly
should we not stop doing after the pandemic? Hand hygiene, cough etiquette as
exemplified by sneezing and coughing into the elbow, environmental sanitation
are protocols that must be maintained even after the pandemic is contained. If
not, another pandemic is bound to surface in another few years.
In conclusion, vaccination is a highly effective
means of preventing VPDs and hopefully, this will eventually include the
SARS-CoV-2 virus and contain the COVID-19 disease. Pending the time, the
COVID-19 vaccine gets to us, let us adhere strictly and consistently to the
safety protocols that have been recommended for us.
Listen to a podcast explaining the path of a vaccine
development to a safe and effective COVID-19 virus.
Dr Ore Taiwo Makinde is a Consultant Family
Physician and Board-certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician.
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