Vaccination campaigns are going on in many cities of the country and many people have received one or both doses of approved coronavirus vaccines. Some have registered themselves and many are perplexed regarding the level of effectiveness and protection in vaccines.
In this regard, a cancer biologist and the director of Punjab University Cancer Research Centre (CRC), Nousheen Zaidi gave clarifications to many questions. She cleared this in a series of posts on Twitter, citing an advisory by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
She posted, “COVID-19 vaccines are here. So, if you are vaccinated, what next? The first question is, when are we considered fully vaccinated? In Pakistan, we are getting a two-dose vaccine. You are considered fully vaccinated TWO weeks after your second dose.”
She added, “If it has been less than 2 weeks since your shot, or if you still need to get your second dose, you are NOT fully protected.” After that period the immunity will kick in.
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Moreover, she also posted, “Even when you are fully vaccinated, it does not mean an immediate return to your post-covid19 life. However, you can gather indoors with fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask.”
“You can gather indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household (for, e.g., visiting relatives who all live together) without masks unless any of those people have an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.”
She then cleared the reason behind following SOPs, “Why do we still have to be cautious? Because coronavirus is likely to continue its rapid spread until a large majority of the population is vaccinated or has survived a natural infection.”
She then answered the last question, “How long will the vaccine-induced immunity last? We’re still learning how long COVID-19 vaccines can protect people. So, we have to wait to find an answer to this question.”
