UNCOVER THE FACTS BEHIND COVID-19 VACCINE WITH DR. DEWI KARTIKAWATI PARAMITA, DEPARTMENT OF HISTOLOGY & BIOLOGY, FACULTY OF MEDICINE, GADJAH MADA UNIVERSITY AMBASSADORS: JESSLYN NADIA, DEA PURNAMA PUTRI BEM KMFA UGM, INDONESIA
Could you explain to us the details of vaccines? Vaccines are biological substances produced by living organisms or viruses, or the organisms or viruses themselves that are attenuated or inactivated, which are injected or administered orally to humans or animals, for increasing immunity against certain diseases. Could you tell us what are the benefits of vaccines? Vaccines will increase immunity against a disease. By administering a vaccine for the same germ that infects that person, a person will gain immunity without experiencing illness caused by the organism. For example the Covid-19 vaccination. With the SARS-Cov-2 vaccination, the immune system in our body will be induced to produce immunity without being preceded by an illness. In addition, because the vaccine dose is measured, the immunity produced will be sufficient to fight back infection. Could you give us the reasons why people should be vaccinated, especially during this Covid-19 pandemic? The first reason is that we have immunity to certain germs or diseases so we are protected from being infected, or if infected it won’t be severe or even asymptomatic. If a large proportion of the population already has immunity, most of them won’t get sick when they meet someone with the disease. For example, 80% of the population already has immunity to COVID-19. If 5 people meet someone who is sick with COVID-19, then 4 out of 5 people won’t become sick and won’t spread the disease. Therefore, vaccination is important not only for oneself, but also for the common good because it prevents the transmission of disease, and can even prevent the transmission of infection. Could you give us confidence about the safety of vaccines? The manufacture or development of vaccines is carried out through various stages. Starting from the preclinical stage in the laboratory (the in vitro level), then in vivo in experimental animals, after that it enters the clinical trial stage in humans which includes three phases. Since preclinical trials are in vitro and in experimental animals, safety becomes the main concern. Then in each phase of clinical trials, safety evaluation is always a priority in addition to the effectiveness and several other factors. If it passes all these tests, the vaccine will get permitted from competent authorities to be circulated and used. Therefore, the vaccine that has been circulating has passed the test for safety.
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