Every nation in the world rushes to build herd immunity from the coronavirus disease. In the Philippines, evident are the efforts for this to happen by giving vaccination to Filipinos. Let us take a brief look on the types of vaccines, available brands, and their pros and cons in general.

Types of Vaccines

Learn what kinds of vaccines the scientists have produced:

1. mRNA vaccine

A messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) is a single-stranded molecule that sends our immune system a message (thus called messenger) about foreign bodies such as the virus. It also signals instructions on how to eliminate these viruses, causing our body to generate antibodies. As soon as the instructions are delivered, the mRNA immediately gets broken down, leaving the antibodies to do their job. It never reaches our cells, so it doesn’t interact with our DNA.

For the understanding of many on how mRNA works, these molecules are compared to social media messaging feature. They send messages (what the virus looks like and instructions to destroy it) and disappear afterwards.

2. Vector vaccine

Vector vaccine uses a genetic material called adenovirus – a harmless virus (unable to replicate and cause sickness) that works as a delivery system. It also signals the immune system of foreign material invasion and triggers instructions to fight them, which results in the creation of defensive white blood cells and antibodies. This genetic material doesn’t also interact with our DNA.

3. Protein subunit vaccine

Subunit vaccines only use certain components of a virus or disease-causing bacteria. The components are known as the antigens which are safer than whole-pathogen vaccine approach. The antigens stimulate our immune system when there are harmful bodies. They send instructions to create antibodies and white blood cells to fight the virus like any vaccine. To improve the efficacy of the vaccine, adjuvants get incorporated to these antigens.

 

 

Available COVID-19 Vaccine Brands

These are the world brands of the coronavirus vaccine available at present:

1. Pfizer-BioNTech

Known as: BNT162b2

Manufacturing company: Pfizer, Inc., and BioNTech

Vaccine type: mRNA

Shots: Two (2) shots and should be 21 days apart

Injection area: Upper arm muscle

For travel overseas: Accepted in Saudi, Qatar, Kuwait, Canada, Europe

2. AstraZeneca

Known as: AZD1222

Manufacturing company: AstraZeneca

Vaccine type: Viral vector

Shots: Two (2) shots and should be 8 to 12 days apart

Injection area: Upper arm muscle

For travel overseas: Accepted in Saudi, Qatar, Kuwait, Canada, Europe

3. Moderna

Known as: mRNA-1273

Manufacturing company: ModernaTX, Inc

Vaccine type: mRNA

Shots: Two (2) shots and should be 28 days apart

Injection area: Upper arm muscle

For travel overseas: Accepted in Saudi, Qatar, Kuwait, Canada, Europe

4. Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen

Known as: JNJ-78436735

Manufacturing company: Janssen Pharmaceuticals Companies of Johnson & Johnson

Vaccine type: Viral vector

Shots: One (1) shots and should be 28 days apart

Injection area: Upper arm muscle

For travel overseas: Accepted in Saudi, Qatar, Kuwait, Canada, Europe

5. Sinopharm

Known as: BIBP

Manufacturing company: China National Biotec Group Co.

Vaccine type: Protein subunit

Shots: Two (2) doses and 2 to 4 weeks apart

Injection area: Upper arm muscle

For travel overseas: Accepted in Qatar (conditional) and Europe

6. Sinovac

Known as: Sinovac-CoronaVac

Manufacturing company: Sinovac Biotech Ltd.

Vaccine type: Protein subunit

Shots: Two (2) doses and 2 to 4 weeks apart

Injection area: Upper arm muscle

For Filipinos going overseas: Accepted in Europe

7. Bharat Biotech

Known as: COVAXIN

Manufacturing company: Bharat Biotech, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – National Institute of Virology (NIV)

Vaccine type: Protein subunit

Shots: Two (2) doses and 28 weeks apart

Injection area: Upper arm muscle

8. CanSino

Known as: CanSino

Manufacturing company: CanSino Biologics Inc.

Vaccine type: Viral vector

Shots: 1 dose

Injection area: Upper arm muscle

9. Gamaleya

Known as: Sputnik V or Gam-Covid-Vac

Manufacturing company: Gamaleya Research Institute

Vaccine type: Viral vector

Shots: Two (2) dose for Sputnik V and one (1) dose to Sputnik Light

Injection area: Upper arm muscle

10. Vector Institute

Known as: EpiVacCorona

Manufacturing company: Vektor State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology

Vaccine type: Protein subunit

Shots: Two (2) doses and 28 weeks apart

Injection area: Upper arm muscle

 

Pros of COVID-19 Vaccines

Take note of the benefits of getting vaccinated:

1. Vaccines protect you from severe diseases and/or death due to COVID-19

It builds you immunity from getting the dreaded coronavirus disease that can cause health complications and, worse, death.

2. Vaccination enables you protect your family, friends, and community from the coronavirus disease.

By getting vaccinated, you also help in reducing the transmission of the virus. In the larger picture, you contribute in the world’s goal of flattening the curve. You can influence other people to do the same, and so they can also protect themselves from any health hazards.

3. The vaccines may also give you protection from COVID-19 variants

Coronavirus mutation happens, and these vaccines can still protect you from these health threats. The vaccines are good to have as shields against more dangerous and transmissible variants of the virus.

4. Vaccines may be required for travel

The severity of COVID-19 cases around the country and the world differ. Some are restrictive with entering their borders, while others are more lenient as long as the vaccine requirement. So, getting vaccinated also allows you to move more freely for work, personal needs, or leisure.

5. Getting vaccinated helps in enhancing the efficacy of vaccines

With more people using the vaccines, there will be more data that can be gathered and analyzed for scientists to improve the current vaccines.

 

Cons of COVID-19 Vaccines

Vaccines have side effects that include:

1. Discomfort and low-grade fever

The vaccines incur various side effects. Discomfort at the site of injection can occur. There are also cases of slight fever, headache, tiredness, and other ailment that go away in a few days.

Medical practitioners know that allergy tests, health status, and underlying conditions of the patient must be identified first before undergoing vaccination. This is to avoid administration that may lead to health risks.

Overall, vaccines help us move forward in our lives with less fear of getting infected with the virus. Get yourself vaccinated now, hoping to end the pandemic moving forward.