Vaccines have emerged as the most effective post-infection defence against Covid-19 as it creates an antibody response. Vaccines are already being administered to millions of people every day and till now more than 15 crore people have been vaccinated in World’s largest vaccination rollout in India.
Vaccines need time to develop immunity to the infection they are designed to prevent. In the case of Covid-19 vaccines, defence against Covid-19 takes two or three weeks. As the vaccine roll out continues and more and more people are vaccinated, the risk of contracting the virus or spreading it to someone else would be reduced.
People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after taking the second dose. Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik V are approved in India, and all three vaccines are two-dose regimes also from May 1, India is opening vaccination for all adults in the country. All these three vaccines will be available.
While Covaxin’s second dose needs to be given 4-6 weeks after the first one, Covishield’s second dose could be given 6-8 weeks after.
Talking about those who have taken just one dose Dr. Vinod Paul Member, NITI Aayog says, ‘’Such people would also develop immunity after two weeks of taking the jab but in such a situation, if they do not get another vaccine, then the purpose of vaccination will remain incomplete. People are not considered fully vaccinated.’’
It is common to have some discomfort after the injection of a vaccine. Common side effects of the vaccine are swelling or redness, mild fever, headache, slight weakness or slight pain in the joints, which will be cured in a few days.
‘’Many people have been infected after getting the vaccine, but according to the data that has come out, the first dose is also giving protection from the virus to the people. If someone is infected after the first dose, he is getting 60 to 75 % protection and after taking the second dose, he gets the virus completely mild. So get your corona vaccine when it comes to your turn,’’ said Dr Sanjay Pandey GB Pant Hospital.
Normalcy can return for fully vaccinated people as Vaccines make people immune but not invincible so the protection with a mask and an appropriate Covid-19 behaviour must be followed even as vaccines are being distributed.
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