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VACCINATION AGAINST CORONA VIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19)

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THE CRISIS MANAGEMENT OF FM CU

20. 01. 2021 14.04 hod.

Dear students and employees,

As you have surely already heard, the vaccination against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has already started in Slovakia. The registration for vaccination is on the website: korona.gov.sk in part "Zaregistrovať sa na očkovanie" (information is just in Slovak - translation here).

The board of the dean strongly recommends to all faculty students and employees to get vaccinated. Primarily to students of the sixth year, at present having practical training in hospitals, clinical workers, and all other students and employees. We consider vaccination as the best solution for prevention. The vaccination of most students and teachers will let us teach all our students in-person, not just those in the final year of studies but in all study years.

Below, there is basic information and the most frequent questions and answers about the vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination.

WHY SHOULD I GET VACCINATED?

Vaccination is the most reliable form of prevention of possibly severe course of the disease. When a student and health care worker is vaccinated, he/she protects himself/herself, patients, colleagues and relatives, and other people in direct contact. It is the way how to gain in the long-term natural protection of the organism against coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The vaccine activates the creation of specific antibodies in the body and cellular immunity. In future, the vaccination certificate about vaccination against COVID-19 will serve as proof of the concerned person's safety for his/her surroundings in the teaching process and the personal and community life.

WHAT TYPES OF VACCINES ARE AVAILABLE?

At present, mRNA vaccine is available (from the consortium BioTech/Pfizer and during January 2021 also mRNA vaccine from the company Moderna should be delivered to Slovakia). Later, also so-called vector vaccine from the companies AstraZeneca and Janssen should be available.

IS THE VACCINE SAFE? IT WAS PRODUCED 'IN A HURRY', IS THERE A RISK?

The technology mRNA is not new; it is known since the year 2011. Via mRNA vaccination (it contains the segments coding S-protein of the virus SARS-CoV-2) information gets into the muscle cell. It will create copies of S-protein virus and subsequently own complex immunity is stimulated (antibody, cellular and specific cytokine spectrum). Then mRNA degrades (within few hours) and is eliminated from the body. Fast production of vaccines is based on the acceleration of the development. Nothing was shortened or accelerated in three phases of clinical testing of safety or efficacy. More than 40,000 people participated in the clinical testing of each vaccine.

IS ANY VACCINE BETTER? WHICH ONE SHOULD I CHOOSE?

It is irrelevant for an ordinary person which type of vaccine he/she gets because all vaccines have similar safety and efficacy. Vaccination needs to be done by the vaccine, which is available in two doses. All doses should be of the same type.

WHAT ARE SIDE EFFECTS OF VACCINES AGAINST THE SARS-COV-2 INFECTION?

Side effects do not differ from other vaccines. The most frequent side effects are, e.g., a headache, painful muscles, tenderness and oedema in the site of puncture or increased temperature. They subside within several hours. For more information, we recommend reading súhrn charakteristických vlastností liečiva (information is in Slovak).

HOW LONG WILL THE IMMUNE PROTECTION INDUCED BY THE VACCINE LAST?

As the vaccine has been used just very shortly, it is not possible to evaluate it precisely. Based on the current research, it is assumed that a minimum of 6-8 months. However, it is individual.

SHALL I GET VACCINATED EVEN IF I OVERCAME THE CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19)?

Yes, it is recommended to get vaccinated for those who already overcame the infection SARC-oV-2, as it is not known, yet how long the post-infection immune protection is. At vaccination, the interval minimum of 2 weeks is recommended after the disease (4 weeks after the onset of the infection since the first PCR positive result in those who are asymptomatic). More information is on: stanovisko Slovenskej spoločnosti alergológie a klinickej imunológie (in Slovak)

WHEN I GET VACCINATED AND THEN TESTED WITH AN AG/PCR TEST, CANNOT IT BE FALSE POSITIVE?

No. No virus which could be detected gets into the body with the vaccine. The PCR test detects the nucleic acid of the virus in the sample from the nasopharynx. The antigen test detects the presence of the protein in the sample from the nasopharynx. Even after vaccination S-protein creates in the cells of the muscle at the site of puncture, it will not get into cells in the nasopharynx, from which the sample is taken for antigen or PCR test. After vaccination, the full immune response will originate within a few weeks after the second dose of the vaccine, within 10-14 days at the latest. Until then, there is still the possibility to get infected. Therefore, if it is necessary to exclude the SARS-CoV-2 infection, it is suitable to undergo testing.

YOU MIGHT PAY ATTENTION ALSO TO OTHER INFORMATION MATERIALS

In case of interest write to us to covid@fmed.uniba.sk

 

On behalf of the Committee for the crisis management of FM CU

ass. prof. Alexandra Bražinová, MD, PhD., MPH 
ass. prof. Peter Jackuliak, MD, PhD., MPH

 

 

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