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HOW COVID-19 VACCINES WORK?

  • Macrophages are white blood cells that swallow up viruses inflicted cells and form antigens. The body identifies antigens as dangerous and stimulates antibodies to destroy them.
  • B-lymphocytes are different type of white blood cells which produce antibodies to attack the virus left behind by the macrophages.
  • T-lymphocytes are another type of white blood cells that attack cells in the body that have already been infected. 

Blood contains red cells, which carry oxygen to organs, and white cells, which fight infection. Once vaccinated, body develops both T and B lymphocytes, the T-lymphocytes behave like memory cells and B-lymphocytes produce antibodies to attack the COVID-19 virus. White blood cells fight infection in different ways:

  • Macrophages are white blood cells that swallow up viruses inflicted cells and form antigens. The body identifies antigens as dangerous and stimulates antibodies to destroy them.
  • B-lymphocytes are different type of white blood cells which produce antibodies to attack the virus left behind by the macrophages.
  • T-lymphocytes are another type of white blood cells that attack cells in the body that have already been infected. 

Three main types of Vaccines

  • mRNA vaccines: 

These vaccines contain material from the virus that causes COVID-19, once injected the human body makes harmless proteins. Human bodies recognize that the protein should not be there, build T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes to fight the virus that causes COVID-19 if we are infected in the future.

  • Protein subunit vaccines 

These vaccines contain harmless portions of the virus that cause COVID-19 instead of the entire germ. Once vaccinated, the immune system recognizes that the proteins don’t belong in the body and begins making T-lymphocytes and antibodies, and provide with memory to fight the virus.

  • Vector vaccines 

These contain a dead version of live virus that has genetic material from the COVID-19 virus (Human Adeno viral vector). Once the viral vector is inside our cells, they prompt human bodies to build T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight the COVID-19 virus. 

Which Vaccine is The Best for India?

  • Moderna: (most expensive and most efficient) 95% efficacy but stored at -20 degrees and 2-8 degrees for a month, genetic code technology is unique.
  • Pfizer: (expensive) 94% efficacy but stored at -70 degrees, RNA based.
  • Sputnik V: (Cheap) 95% efficacy but stored at 2-8 degrees This Russian vaccine is produced by Dr. Reddy’s labs using viral vector technology.
  • Oxford/AstraZeneca: (Cheapest) 90% efficacy but stored at 2-8 degrees This Serum Institute of India, Pune is producing this vaccine using viral vector technology.

Russian Sputnik V and Oxford/AstraZeneca are the two vaccines that may be used by India and the third world.

VALUE BASED CARE

(Condition specific – Doctor Led – AI Driven Health Care) Value-based healthcare is an approach to healthcare that focuses on delivering the best possible outcomes

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