With inputs from Dr Monica Vasudev

1436: How long we go for post vaccine masks

Full immunity is achieved in 28 days after vaccination. It normally takes about two weeks for your immune system to respond. However, everybodys immune system reacts in a different way. Response, based on some measures, may be seen as early as seven days after this vaccine. Hence, the best advice to be given with the vaccine is that practice of social distancing and wearing a mask should be continued. Other preventive methods should be practiced until we have really tamped down the pandemic to a large extent. At the end of 28 days, strong protection against the severe disease or need for hospitalization or death may start becoming visible.

1437: Anecdotal reports say Vaccines Help COVID Long-Haulers?

Some people suffering from long COVID have found significant symptom relief after the first dose of their COVID-19 vaccine. It was reported by Mara Gay that she experienced improvement of her condition after the first vaccine dose. In a survey conducted by Gez Medinger comprising of 473 responses (80% from the U.K. and 15% from the U.S.; 86% women) results showed that the majority of patients received Pfizers vaccine (60%), followed by AstraZeneca (30%) and Moderna (9%). At the end of one week after the first vaccine dose was given, 9% of patients said their long COVID symptoms had improved, and by 2 weeks, 16% reported an improvement of their symptoms. Among all individuals who were administered vaccine 2 weeks or earlier, 27% said their long COVID symptoms are slightly better, while about 14% reported slight worsening of their symptoms. While 5% felt they regained their normal health about 3.8% felt much worse than earlier. Experts have proposed three potential mechanisms for long COVID: a persistent viral reservoir; viral fragments or remnants that drive inflammation; or an autoimmune response induced by the infection. There may be a probable involvement of vaccine-induced T-cell and antibody response that can eliminate the virus reservoir or the viral fragments/remnants, or the vaccine could be diverting autoimmune cells through an unknown mechanism. Vaccines may also trigger the innate immune response. It has been suggested that transient inflammation may divert leukocytes causing long COVID, however, in such a case any benefit obtained from vaccines wouldnt be sustained long-term.

Dr KK Aggarwal

President CMAAO, HCFI and Past National President IMA