What causes COVID-19 vaccine side effects?
Posted on: 02/Jun/2021 3:02:12 PM
Presently, for the last 6 months, the coronavirus vaccines are here! While some citizens can`t wait to get vaccinated, others are concerned about side effects such as sore arms, fevers and nausea.
However, there is 1 major issue regarding the vaccines - Why do the vaccines sometimes cause these unpleasant symptoms, and are they cause for concern?
The experts told the magazine Live Science that it might seem counterintuitive, but side effects are a sign the vaccine is doing its job!
Dr Susan R. Bailey, an allergist, immunologist and President of the American Medical Association, said side effects develop because your immune system is reacting to the vaccine. People may start to develop fever, fatigue, headache and soreness around the injection area 12 to 24 hours after vaccination.
The reason:
Dr Nitin Desai, CEO and chief marketing officer of COVID PreCheck, said that the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines tell the body to make the coronavirus "spike" protein, which the virus uses to enter and infect cells. The presence of this spike protein initiates an immune response from three types of cells: macrophages, T cells and B cells, a digital health passport for recent COVID-19 tests and vaccination.
Desai, further said, "Consistently, the second shot is showing more side effects but a better immune response. The first dose teaches the immune system to recognize the virus and start producing antibodies and T cells against it, and the second shot is what helps the vaccine reach the full 94% to 95% efficacy. Individual differences, such as stress level and diet, can also influence side effects”
Bailey said:
People who previously recovered from COVID-19 are also likelier to have strong side effects - even after the first shot. That`s because their immune systems have already been primed to react to the virus.
Desai also said that given the new coronavirus variants spreading worldwide, it`s very important to get vaccinated and be willing to get future booster shots.
Bailey agreed. "No one is bulletproof, and we need everybody to get vaccinated so that we can develop herd immunity and protect those in the population who haven`t had a chance to get the vaccine yet or who may be in an age group that is not entitled to get the vaccine yet," Bailey said.
