Tag: vaccination

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Is COVID airborne: Here’s how you can stay safe.

strategy to fight COVID-19

 COVID-19 was declared a Pandemic by WHO more than a year ago. New studies are still being conducted to understand more about its nature of transmission. It was initially believed that the infection spreads through droplets and close contact. But over the year emerging research studies have pointed to the possibility of its Airborne Transmission. WHO, in its recent guideline has confirmed that Coronavirus is airborne. This latest Finding was first published in The Lancet journal. And the scientists called for modification of the international protocol in dealing with the Pandemic. As more information emerges, governments need to revise their strategy to fight COVID-19 and advise the public to modify their behaviour accordingly.

 

 Airborne 

 

It means that the pathogen is capable to spread through aerosol particles that can remain suspended in the air for a longer period. These aerosols are respiratory droplets produced during breathing, coughing, or sneezing. And can remain suspended in the air for almost an hour over long distances up to six feet or greater, according to CDC.

Exposure to tiny droplets containing virus strains when you are in direct contact with an infected person increases the chances of transmission manyfold. airborne transmission of COVID-19 not only has a ‘higher attack rates’, but also has high exponentiality, which means it can infect a large number of people in a very short period.

 

Conditions conducive to Airborne Transmission.

 

Poorly ventilated and closed settings increase the risk of airborne transmission of COVID-19 because the virus in the droplets can stay suspended for a longer duration. Prolonged exposure to infected respiratory aerosols is another condition that can increase your susceptibility to catching the infection, as it allows the build-up of these small droplets and their viral load. The Medical community has also pointed out that repeated use of damp masks or not changing masks at regular intervals may increase your susceptibility to the infection because it creates a favorable environment for viral growth.

 

What can you do to protect yourself from the Transmission?

 

1. The Six-Foot Rule 

This social distancing rule can considerably reduce your risk of COVID-19 exposure. Because studies have revealed that airborne transmission of the contagious pathogen from a primary source would have a maximum range of six feet. You should make sure to keep at least two arm’s length distance from the next person when you step outside the house. This can ensure your safety as well as of the others.

2. Up your game with the mask

As the virus mutates into a more contagious pathogen and as new information emerges. You should also revise your strategy and precautions to fight it. The new variant of Coronavirus is believed to be 15% more infectious. And with confirmation of its airborne transmission, you can no more rely on a cloth mask. Doctors have advised wearing an N95 respirator or mask. Whenever stepping out of the house it reduces your chances to catch the virus by over 95%.

If you don’t have an N-95 mask at home, then you can follow the double masking routine. In double masking, you need to wear a surgical mask over a cloth mask for optimal protection against COVID-19. Make sure that a 3-ply surgical mask is tightly rested against your face and nose clip is appropriately placed.

3. Ensure sufficient ventilation.

Cross ventilation of air through your home is important to prevent suspension and consequent build-up of the COVID-19 virus in your house. Constant circulation of clean and fresh air would not allow aerosols to re-circulate and remain suspended for a longer period. This would ensure the adequate dilution of indoor air and keep it virus-free.

4. Sanitize and disinfect

WHO has recommended hand hygiene, sanitization, and regular disinfecting. Washing your hand with soap and water at regular intervals for 20 seconds can decrease your susceptibility to COVID-19. In case soap and water are not available or you are outside. You can use an alcohol-based rub or sanitizer to stay protected. Remember that it is also possible for COVID-19 to spread by touching a contaminated surface or through fomites. So it is necessary to wear hand gloves when you are outside and try to avoid touching your face or eyes to reduce the risk. 

5. Vaccination

Finally, the vaccine is the ultimate tool to win over the COVID-19 Pandemic. Vaccine shots mimic the virus proteins once it enters your body. It enables the cells to build artificial antibodies against the coronavirus, thus providing you with a sure ‘shot protection’. Vaccines have the potential to save lives, reduce case numbers and drastically reduce the severity of the disease. There might be a lot of misinformation around the subject of vaccines. But it is the only hope that can bring the world back to much-awaited ‘normalcy’. So, don’t get caught up with the vaccine hesitancy and get yourself registered for it to win the battle against COVID-19 and its airborne transmission.

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Industry Talk

Covid Vaccine : Effectiveness and Efficiency

You might be among the more than 138 million people in India who have taken at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine. Or you may still be waiting for your turn. Regardless, there’s a question on most of our minds: How long will the vaccine really protect us? 

 

 

According to the report of Times of India, “Is vaccine really safe?” is second on the list of Top Ten Most Searched Questions on Google.

As with most aspects of the virus, the appropriate answer is not clear. Why? Because despite the fact that we have been battling the pandemic for over a year now. The vaccines were granted emergency use authorization relatively recently. So specialists have not had time to observe their long-term effectiveness till now.

According to some experts, When you get the vaccine, it takes some time for your body to build an immune response that’ll keep you protected and safe. Because of all these factors, Doctors are asking people not to let their guard down even after getting vaccinated.

In other words, it’ll take time for the vaccine to kick in, and we should still plan to play it safe after getting Vaccinated.

 

What happens to your body after getting a vaccine dose?

According to WHO, the COVID-19 vaccines produce protection against the virus, as a result of developing an immune response to the SARS-Cov-2 virus. Developing immunity with the help of vaccines means there is less risk of developing the illness and its consequences.

Different types of vaccines work in different ways in providing protection. Yet with all types of vaccines, the body is left with a supply of “memory” T-lymphocytes as well as B-lymphocytes that will remember how to battle that virus later on.

It usually takes 1-2 weeks after immunization for the body to create T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes. That’s why it’s possible that a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after getting the vaccine dose and then get sick as the vaccine did not have enough time to provide protection and immunity.

In some cases after vaccination, the process of building immunity can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are absolutely normal and are signs that your body is building immunity.

Do some Vaccines Require More Than One Shot?

To be fully safe and protected, you will need two shots of some COVID-19 vaccines.

  • Two shots: Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines offer two shots.  You are considered fully vaccinated and protected, two weeks after your second shot If you get a COVID-19 vaccine that offers two shots,
  • One-Shot: Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine only offers one shot. If you get a COVID-19 vaccine that offers one shot, you are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after your shot.

 If it has been less than two weeks since your shot, or if you still need to get your second shot, you are NOT at all fully protected. Keep taking all prevention steps until you are completely vaccinated.

Precautions to be taken after getting vaccine shot.

Even though most of the vaccines that are being used across the country have undergone multiple trials and have been found to be effective in these trial phases. But we still don’t know if these vaccines offer complete immunity or not. We don’t even know how long the vaccines will continue to be effective for us. For now, we can all take heart in the fact that the vaccines will help us fight against the coronavirus.

Here are a few precautions for COVID-19 that all responsible citizens should follow even after vaccination-

  • Continue maintaining social distancing and avoid crowded places like malls, restaurants, and markets, etc.
  • Please don’t forget to wear a mask and sanitize your hands.
  • Encourage and help others as much as you can to register for the vaccination.

Vaccination is one of many steps that you can take to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.  Protection from this virus is critically important as for some people, COVID-19 can cause a serious problem or even death.

Ending this pandemic requires using all the tools available. Vaccines work with your immune system so that your body will be ready to battle against the virus if you are exposed.

If you or your loved one are facing any symptoms don’t wait for long just get your tests done at home through OneDios App in a few clicks. Download the OneDios app and relax in the comfort of your home.