The vaccine is not an automatic off switch for the pandemic. Masks and social distancing will need to continue into the foreseeable future.
Dr Chieng Jin Yu, Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, from Pantai Hospital Ampang (PHA) explains the reasons why you still need to wear a mask despite being vaccinated.
Q: How long will it take for the vaccine to work?
Dr Chieng: We won’t reach the 70% to 95% effectiveness rate until a few weeks after our second shot of the vaccine (and a few weeks after we get our single shot of vaccine if yours is a single-dose- vaccination). Vaccine takes time for the immune system to make the antibodies that block viral infections.
Q: Will the vaccine provide 100% protection?
Dr Chieng: No vaccines provide 100 protection. Although the vaccines are incredibly effective, according to the studies, they only offer 70% to 95% protection. And it’s’ tough to know who is the one not responding to the vaccine. If you are the one that does not gain enough antibody level, you will still be at risk for COVID-19 especially if you do not wear a mask!
Q: What will be the fate of those who are contraindicated for vaccination?
Dr Chieng: We still need to protect those who can’t be vaccinated. Our MOH had recommended that if you’ve had a severe allergic reaction to any of the ingredients in the vaccine, you shouldn’t get it. And those who are pregnant (without high risk) or those who are in the active phase of autoimmune disease (especially those who are on biologic or high dose steroid treatment), etc are also not recommended for vaccination.
Q: How long will it take for us to achieve herd immunity?
Dr Chieng: It will take some time. Unfortunately, getting vaccinated does not instantly mean we can go back to how life was before. In order for us to reach herd immunity, 70% to 80% of the population will need to be vaccinated. However, it is not easy for any country to achieve an ideal held immunity in a short duration. Most countries have faced several obstacles, some predictable, some not, when running the vaccination campaign. First at all, vaccine supply is limited and uncertain. Many hospitals are already overwhelmed with COVID-19 caseloads. Moreover, not everyone wants the shot. All these issues could lead to difficulty in building a good held immunity. More efforts are required to overcome these issues.
Q: Will those who have been vaccinated be asymptomatic spreaders?
Dr Chieng: The vaccines prevent illness, but experts are not sure if the vaccines also prevent the virus transmission.
Dr Chieng Jin Yu
Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Pantai Hospital Ampang (PHA)
