Whoopee! I got my corona virus vaccination! NO pain. NO bad symptoms: i.e. headache, nausea, weakness, lethargy. None of ‘em. I’m scheduled for my second shot in February. Now those of you who wish you could get the shot; let me assure you, I didn’t pay or finagle to go to the head of the line. I’m a Mercy Hospital Hospice volunteer and all employees and volunteers were vaccinated.
And for those of you who say, “What? Me get vaccinated? Nope! Not on your life.” That’s okay, ‘cus it’s your life. I’m protecting mine; you can protect or not protect yours as you see fit. Once both shots take effect I should be protected from the unvaccinated.
There are tons of questions about the vaccine. I know I was skeptical: how could they produce a SAFE vaccine so fast? Well, maybe there are some answers in the process used to produce a vaccine. Let’s go through it.
According to WebMD researchers are testing 68 vaccines in clinical trials on humans, and 20 have reached the final stages of testing. At least 90 preclinical vaccines are under active investigation in animals. Wow!
First there is “preclinical testing”: Scientists test a new vaccine on cells and then give it to animals such as mice or monkeys to see if it produces an immune response. I know, animal lovers decry this. But hey! I feel for the poor turkeys every time they catch and depose them. It’s all a personal attitude!
PHASE 1 OF THE TRIALS: Scientists give the vaccine to a small number of people to test safety and dosage, as well as to confirm that it stimulates the immune system.
PHASE 2 EXPANDED TRIALS: Scientists give the vaccine to hundreds of people split into groups, such as children and the elderly, to see if the vaccine acts differently in them. These trials further test the vaccine’s safety.
PHASE 3 EFFICACY TRIALS: Scientists give the vaccine to thousands of people and wait to see how many become infected, compared with volunteers who received a placebo. These trials can determine if the vaccine protects against the coronavirus, measuring what’s known as the efficacy rate. Phase 3 trials are also large enough to reveal evidence of relatively rare side effects.
Ordinarily, this process takes years but it was expedited by combining phases. Some vaccines combined Phase 1 and 2 trials. Many countries have given emergency authorization based on preliminary evidence that the vaccines are safe and effective. China, Russia and other countries have begun administering vaccines before detailed Phase 3 trial data was made public. Experts have warned of serious risks from jumping ahead of these results. If investigators observe worrying symptoms in volunteers, they can pause the trial. After an investigation, the trial may resume or be abandoned.
The goal, as with any vaccination, is called “herd immunity.” Don’t you love that? It makes you feel like you’re just a bunch of cattle! But seriously, for this some experts say about 60% to 70% of the population would need to develop antibodies. You can get those from the vaccine or getting and recovering from COVID-19. In other words, if not enough people get vaccinated, it may prove difficult to reach herd immunity. So, I invite you to become part of the herd: either through vaccination or contracting Covid 19.
