Covid-19 vaccinations: How it works & why it fails to protect some?

When our babies are born – we get a vaccination chart from the paediatrician – and until the age of 5, we do frequent turns to the paediatricians' clinic – handling and caressing a howling yelling angry baby post each vaccination?

So what are these vaccinations meant for? They prepare and train the new & growing body to defend itself against a set of known diseases!

Its these vaccinations that disease like smallpox, polio are eradicated in most of the parts of the world, and the human race is looking beyond to varied possibilities –

The vaccine creates an infection in the body – which isn't an actual infection, to teach and train the immune system to recognise, fight and finish similar pathogens if found inside the body. So now there is not much risk to the vaccinated body. 

Researchers have been using this strategy for hundreds of years to developed vaccines for potent life-threatening diseases.

To make a flu vaccine, researchers generated many viruses, made them weak, and then harvest them. We can also make vaccines using live viruses that are weakened by manipulation not to harm an individual. Alternatively, scientists can also make a synthetic virus that can train our immune system to generate enough cells to fight against the actual virus.

mRNA Technology Gave Us the First COVID-19 Vaccines. Scientists' latest strategy to fight viruses is using messenger RNA or mRNA. This technique is used in gene editing, which was developed in the later part of the previous decade. While gene editing is used extensively in Agriculture, and COVID vaccine is the first usage of gene editing on humans. mRNA uses the technique which is already present in nature; bacteria use this technique to fight against the virus.

Experts research the virus sequencing to make an mRNA vaccine and find how it binds to healthy cells. Coronavirus binds to healthy cells using spike proteins. 

Then, researchers copy and package those genetic codes and inject them into healthy volunteers. After that, the immune system of healthy volunteers starts making their spike proteins. And this way, the immune system in the body learns about the virus and develops the capability to neutralise it. 

mRNA vaccines have not been widely used before because it's hard to keep mRNA for the desired time to reach the host cells. But scientists have overcome this problem, and they are able to make vaccines.

Researchers were able to synthesise mRNA for the SARS-Covid-2 vaccine in January 2020, which allowed them to start the first phase of vaccine trials by March last year. In many parts of the world, approved vaccines are being manufactured – however, a country like India, with 20 % of the world's population, faces a shortage and hopes to get vaccinated soon.

Why are people coming Covid positive even after the vaccination?

The answer to this is the same as why some people aren't even showing symptoms – and getting cured themselves and why some people are not able to fight the disease to the extent of risking their lives.

It's immunity that plays a very big role – such a significant role that even the vaccine may fail. If your immune capacity is low, so that despite vaccination – the body is not able to prepare itself to create antibodies.

 A good lifestyle – that puts you in good routined habits works wonder to your mind and body. For example, -  eating the right food at right time, doing the right yoga or fitness regime - resting your body with adequate sleep -  recharging your mind with meditation and keeping yourself motivated with positive thoughts – have a lot to do with your immunity & fitness.                         

Vaccines aren't miracle cures: they don't make one immune to disease. All it does that it helps our immune system to fight the virus in a better way.  Vaccination is not successful until a critical mass of the population is vaccinated to develop "herd immunity".

In previous centuries there were many pandemics like the plague, Spanish flu etc., but they were contained in particular geography as the world was not interconnected as it is now. Hence vaccination in isolation won't work well. All countries of the world must unite to make the human race "herd immune "to this virus.

We also must prepare for future contagion. In that regard, transparency and immediate warning to the world is the best solution. Hiding the phenomenon of species jump (SARS -COV-2 jumped from bat to Humans) should be brought to the world's notice immediately. There is also a need for global sharing of knowledge regarding vaccine development.

In the upcoming decades, a good lifestyle – that focuses on overall wellbeing and strengthening your immunity - will be the key to ensure our collective wellbeing and ultimately the survival of the human race.

May the days ahead bring us Health, Happiness & Peace!

AM