Published on February 24, 2022
Aaradhana Reddy
Counselling Psychologist
Contents
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 pandemic is caused by the new coronavirus strain; SARS-CoV-2 first identified in 2019. Coronaviruses are a form of virus that causes disease among humans and animals. Some coronaviruses that affect animals can develop to cause disease in human beings. There are many forms of coronaviruses. Some forms of coronaviruses that cause illness in humans are the SARS-CoV; that cause severe acute respiratory syndrome, MERS CoV, that cause middle east respiratory syndrome etc. Viruses are known to mutate fairly fast. The Delta variant, both high in severity and transmission compared to the earlier strain; is said to have caused the second wave, resulting in excessive influx of patients, leading to shortage of beds, oxygen, ventilators etc. It created a lot of strain on the healthcare system and health care professionals. The new omicron variant, first identified in South Africa, is said to have caused the third wave, which is higher in transmission, but low in severity.
COVID-19 is a communicable disease. It can spread from one person to another. They spread through droplets (coughing, sneezing, talking etc.) and minute virus particles. When a person comes in close contact to an infected person, there is a risk of their nose, mouth and eyes being exposed to droplets. Hence, large crowds in closed spaces poses an extremely high risk of transmission; because with little ventilation and close contact, the droplets tend to linger around. Although some have mild infection, others with comorbidities and low immunity can have a more severe infection.
What are the Symptoms of covid-19?
fever
cough
loss of smell and taste
sore throat
Other symptoms include, headache
body pains
fatigue
diarrhea
nausea/vomiting etc.
COVID-19 Diagnosis
COVID-19 can be diagnosed with a laboratory test. The incubation period is 2-14 days; although some can be asymptomatic. RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription- Polymerase Chain Reaction) is the gold standard in diagnosing COVID-19. The test is used for detecting the presence of genetic material for any pathogen; such as a virus. The sample is collected from the nose or throat where the virus gathers. The sample is then chemically treated in order to get only the RNA material and leave out the others. This RNA material will be the person’s own and if infected, the virus’s. Next, using the process of reverse transcription, the RNA is turned to DNA. Then there is an addition of complementary DNA strands to specific parts of viral transcribed DNA. Hence, if virus in present, then these complementary DNA strands attach themselves to the virus DNA. Some DNA fragments are added to create DNA strands, others are used for adding markers; which are later used to detect the virus. This is then added to the RT-PCR machine; which creates identical copies of the small portions of viral DNA that has been targeted. This cycle is then repeated. During this process, the markers in the DNA, produce a florescent light. If this florescent light exceeds a certain level, it confirms the presence of the virus.
Precautions
Wearing a mask in public places
Maintaining social distance
Maintaining hygiene- washing hands, using alcohol-based hand sanitizers
Staying home
Avoiding crowded places
Avoiding public gatherings (weddings, parties, funerals etc.)
Getting vaccinated
To prevent transmission, quarantining oneself is essential
Delaying non-essential travel
Covering with elbow
COVID-19 Vaccines: How they work?
When a vaccine is injected, it helps the body in recognizing and developing an immune response against a pathogen, helping in fighting any future infections. Vaccines are usually lab made, where a part of live or inactivated virus is injected into our arm muscles. These do not lead to any infection or illness; and fever after the vaccine is expected and a sign that vaccines are working. Vaccines work by helping the body imitate an infection. This leads to the production of T-lymphocytes (defensive white blood cells, that attack the infected cells of our body) and antibodies, by our immune system. As the imitated infection reduces, our body has the T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes (defensive white blood cells, that fight the antigens left over by the macrophages, which are white blood cells that digest germs. They sometimes leave behind parts of the germs, called antigens). These T and B-lymphocytes now have 'memory' left by the vaccines to fight future infections. The above process takes a few weeks to produce the T and B-lymphocytes.
Apart from the live/attenuated vaccines that contain living parts of the virus and inactivated vaccines that contain dead virus (killing done during the making of the vaccine); there is also the mRNA vaccines. Both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Unlike the live and inactivated vaccines, mRNA vaccines created in laboratory, help our bodies create proteins. mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) carry the genetic material to make proteins.
In the context of COVID-19, when mRNA vaccines are injected into our arm muscles, they help the cells make a piece of spike proteins which are harmless. Spike proteins which are found on the coronavirus, are the ones that cause COVID-19. Our cells then show the spike protein on their surface. Our immune system, then recognizes the pathogen, which induces an immune response by sending defensive white blood cells to attack the infection. And just like the previous types of vaccines did, our body then remembers how to fight it off, if infection occurs in the future. Vaccines may need more than one dose. Vaccines can protect a person from developing severe infection. It is safe to get vaccinated. Vaccination can help us in our fight against COVID-19. Vaccines can save lives.
In India, Covisheild or the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India, Covaxin by Bharath Biotech and Sputnik Light are approved. Covisheild is made from the weakened cold virus, called the adenovirus from chimpanzees, which is turned to seem like the coronavirus, which is harmless and incapable of causing an infection. Covaxin is an inactivated vaccine, where traces of dead coronavirus is injected into the body, which creates an immune response. Sputnik Light is also based on the same concept of adenovirus.
Myths about COVID-19 Vaccine
Once you get vaccinated you can stop taking precautions.
You can get COVID-19 from the vaccines
Vaccine causes infertility
Vaccines are dangerous
I’ve got COVID-19 before, so I don’t have to take the vaccine
It is dangerous to take the vaccine if you are pregnant
Vaccine alters or changes your DNA.
COVID-19 vaccines were developed too fast and hence are not safe.
References
Centre for Disease Control and Prevention . (2020, February 15). Human Coronavirus Types. Retrieved from Centre for Disease Control and Prevention : https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/types.html
Centre for Disease Control and Prevention . (2022, January 4). Understanding mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines. Retrieved from Centre for Disease Control and Prevention :
Centre for Disease Control and Prevention . (2018, August 17). Understanding How Vaccines Work. Retrieved from Centre for Disease Control and Prevention :
Cleveland Clinic. (2021). COVID-19 and PCR Testing. Retrieved from Cleveland Clinic: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/21462-covid-19-and-pcr-testing
Jawerth, N. (2020, March 27). How is the COVID-19 Virus Detected using Real Time RT-PCR? Retrieved from International Atomic Energy Agency: https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/how-is-the-covid-19-virus-detected-using-real-time-rt-pcr
John Hopkins Health. (2021, May 14). COVID-19 Vaccines: Myth Versus Fact. Retrieved from John Hopkins Health: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccines-myth-versus-fact
John Hopkins Medicine . (2021, May 19). What is Coronavirus. Retrieved from John Hopkins Medicine : https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus
World Health Organization. (2020, March 29). Modes of transmission of virus causing COVID-19: implications for IPC precaution recommendations. Retrieved from World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/modes-of-transmission-of-virus-causing-covid-19-implications-for-ipc-precaution-recommendations
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