What's the Best COVID Vaccine?

The coronavirus vaccine topic has raised awareness regarding the importance of vaccination. I have debated it from my own experience: "How a Tall Army Doctor Changed My Life With a Small Act of Kindness."

Before that, I had written an utmost personal story: "I Suffer From Atopy Should I be PRO-VAXXER or ANTI-VAXXER?".

These articles were published by Vocal in Longevity and were well received by the platform audience. I believe the public attention regarding my articles relates to the ongoing dilemma: to vaccinate or not to vaccinate, that's the question!

First of all, I would like to clarify that I have no affiliation with any movement. Therefore, everything I write comes only from my experience and reflects only my personal opinion, values, ideas, and beliefs.

Nothing in any of my articles is (or intends to be) judgemental or written to pass judgment on others' values or beliefs. I write from a value knowledge perspective and, as far as possible, in good judgment, according to what I believe to be factual and science-based.

According to an article published by The Lancet, herd immunity is typically achieved when 75 to 90% of the population is immune through natural infection or vaccination.

Hence, it’s indisputable that if a large number of the world population decides to forfeit vaccination and let nature take its course, the time required to reach that plateau increases exponentially.

I’ve been on both sides of the barricades. A few months ago, I was skeptical about these new mRNA vaccines. However, everything changed after the results of the phase 3 trials were made public, and I learned how several new vaccines were showing a +70% effectiveness, with some reaching +90%.

Now in 2021, when we hear the news of the vaccine's impact among healthcare workers, we feel relieved, as these are better than we expected.

Portugal's official news agency, Lusa, reported how 95 and 97% of health professionals vaccinated against COVID-19 at São João Hospital and Medical Center (CHUSJ), Porto, Portugal, presented antibodies that lead to immunity, 15 days after the first dose.

Of the 2,125 doctors, nurses, operational assistants, and diagnostic and therapeutic technicians who were among the first Portuguese who took the vaccine on December 27, about four dozen underwent serological tests to study vaccine immunity.

The Director of the Clinical Pathology Service at CHUSJ, Tiago Guimarães, MD, admitted to Lusa that these results “are as expected and described” concerning the vaccine administered, that of the pharmaceutical Pfizer:

“We are not describing anything other than what was anticipated, but it makes us happy to realize that it worked and gives confidence that it is worth vaccinating. The vaccination process must run as quickly as possible"

Tiago Guimarães, MD, stressed that these tests are different from the most common since they show “generically the antibodies produced after an infection,” while those used in the study measure “the ability to produce antibodies induced by the vaccine.”

Three samplings were carried out — the first in the days after taking the vaccine, the second in the following week, and the third after 15 days — the study showed:

“95 to 97% of people already produce antibodies, so they are presumed to have immunity”.

“Virtually everyone produced antibodies from the vaccine at least after 15 days. In the second harvest, 10 to 15% already had [antibodies induced by the vaccine]. The goal is to understand when the antibodies appear ”

The Director also emphasized how these results are reassuring and should inspire “confidence” in the population that may be undecided about vaccination.

Regarding reports of vaccinated workers becoming infected in the following days, the specialist admits they detected “some cases” in the first vaccinated professionals' universe, a number that currently exceeds 4,000 staff members.

“They were positive [to COVID-19] in the following days. These are concomitant processes: they would either be incubating [the new coronavirus] at the time they were vaccinated or they were exposed after [vaccination] as the production of antibodies is not immediate.”

According to Lusa, the COVID-19 pandemic caused at least 1,979,596 fatalities so far, resulting from more than 92.3 million infection cases worldwide, while in Portugal, 8,384 people died of 517,806 confirmed cases of infection.

Final Thoughts

Former US First Lady Michelle Obama, 57, posted on Instagram on Thursday (11) an image in which she appears being vaccinated against the new coronavirus.

Thus, I make the great Lady's words my own:

"When you can get the COVID-19 vaccine, I hope you do—Barack and I are certainly glad we did," she shared. "It's our best shot at beating this virus, looking out for one another, and getting back to some of the things we miss. Getting vaccinated will save lives—and that life could be yours."

Barack was also vaccinated and spoke out on Instagram:

Michelle and I got vaccinated against COVID-19 because we know it’s the best way to beat this pandemic, protect one another, and get the country back up and running again. So I hope you’ll get the vaccine as soon as it’s available to you. It could save your life.

Getting vaccinated will save lives—and that life could be yours.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It only depicts my personal experience and should not be considered Health Advice. Please report to your local health authority for accurate and official guidance.

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-Rui