Everyone in the world is eyeing the COVID-19 vaccine, thus inciting more speculation and hence, igniting controversy on many platforms.
By Dr Sarmad Syed
COVID-19 has hit the world hard. A total of 72.4 million people worldwide infected with 1.61 million deaths in the last 12 months.
On the bright side, the much-awaited COVID-19 vaccine is now being rolled out to different parts of the world. On December 11, 2020, the government authorities allowed the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as emergency use by the FDA in the US, and the first vaccinations were thus carried out.
COVID-19 vaccine and controversy
However, there are always those that try to dampen the general population's morale with false information, which is criminal in these times. Here, we will be addressing many of these and attempt to put those claims to rest.
Deaths
There have been a lot of posts regarding the deaths of participants in the Pfizer vaccine trials. The truth is, 6 people did die in the trial, but only 2 were given the vaccine. The remaining four had been administered a saline placebo. That is to say, a causal relationship could not be established between the vaccine and the deaths, and it was determined they occurred in line with the normal death rate for the general population.
Reactions
Consequently, two NHS workers, who were jabbed with the vaccine, got anaphylactic reactions. Therefore, experts termed the drug under the bracket of cautionary use in allergic patients.
Storage
Most of the vaccines that have been developed are very fragile and need to be stored and transported at sub-zero temperatures. For example, one of these (Sputnik V), however, can be stored at regular fridge temperature in its dry form, as stated by the company (Gamaleya), and costs 10 USD compared to 20 USD for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
HIV antibodies
Trials in Australia show the development of HIV antibodies in a candidate who was then pulled from the program. As an immune reaction, the body produces these antibodies towards fragments of an HIV protein. Experts used this to stabilize the vaccine. The vaccine, however, did not cause an HIV infection in the participant. Likewise, the participant was fine and developed no adverse effects.
To sum up, people have always welcomed anything new with skepticism and controversy. This is how it is, and this is how it shall be. However, it is now more than ever that one should be cautious of what news one spreads, as one false move could potentially tip the balance and throw our teetering society into chaos.
-The author is a contributing writer at Dental News Pakistan and can be reached at sarmadbinrafi@gmail.com
