Two Professors Evaluated Coronavirus Vaccines: Do They Really Differ in Quality?

Greater response after the first dose and less after the second dose

As prof. skilled. Dr. Vytautas Usonis, there was a lot of concern about mRNA vaccines in April, but then you became convinced that they are really safe.

Then the AstraZeneca vaccine, which came to us not long ago, became a topic of discussion. Nothing wonderful, because new things always provoke discussions and doubts in people ”, said prof. V. Usonis.

The main concern of AstraZeneca in humans is that it causes a variety of side effects after the first dose, such as fever, muscle aches, headaches, chills, nausea, and the like. At that time, there were almost no side effects after the first dose of Pfizer & BioNtech.

It is for this reason that most people find that AstraZeneca causes more side effects than other mRNA-based vaccines. However, according to the professor, such a belief is not true.

“After receiving the mRNA vaccine, there is a greater response after the second dose. At that time, after AstraZeneca, there are more side effects after the first dose and fewer after the second. Data from the UK, which already has millions of inoculated doses of AstraZeneca, are also published, ”said the professor.

As prof. V. Usonis, the 3 currently approved vaccines cause quite significant side effects. However, they should not be too afraid, the most important thing is to prepare medications that relieve symptoms.

“The concern is that the 3 vaccines are sufficiently reactogenic. These side effects are described and known: muscle pain, tiredness, swelling at the injection site, headache. This is listed in the description of the vaccine. People must be prepared for the possibility of such a reaction in the body. If the temperature rises to 38.5 degrees, you no longer have to wait 40 degrees, it is better to take paracetamol immediately to stop the side effects, “said the doctor.

Also, it is important to understand that the body’s reaction after a vaccine is a completely normal process. According to the professor, there should be no fear of vaccination with this vaccine, and fears about it stem from the lack of proper and sufficient communication. There are many myths at that time.

“Vaccines can cause temporary discomfort to a vaccinated person. People need to explain those things. They are explained by experts on several occasions, but I think this is one more example of the lack of communication from experts from various structures, both from the Government and the Ministry of Health. In addition, there is a group of independent experts from the National Immunoprophylaxis Program, who are not listened to at all ”, said the professor, which is why Lithuanians are afraid of being vaccinated with AstraZeneca.

The interlocutor also reminds that all people who have experienced side effects after the vaccine must register on the website of the State Agency for Drug Control. This allows experts to assess whether the phenomena experienced are threatening or not.

What does 70% mean? efficiency?

Another aspect of public concern is AstraZeneca’s efficiency ratio, which is between 60 and 70 percent. However, this figure is far from meaning that around 30% of people will not receive any protection.

At that time, the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer was 95% effective and the Moderna product was 94% effective.

How is it written livescience.com, in the case of 95% of Pfizer vaccines. effectiveness, one of the common misconceptions is that in clinical trials conducted by the company, 5% of vaccinated individuals developed COVID-19. But this is not true.

In fact, in the Pfizer (and Moderna) studies, there were significantly fewer people who received the vaccine but were still infected with the coronavirus, at 0.04%. 95 percent. means that vaccinated people scored 95 percent. less likely to develop COVID-19 compared to a control group whose members were not vaccinated. In other words, participants vaccinated with Pfizer were 20 times less likely to become infected with COVID-19 than those who were not vaccinated.

According to prof. V. Usonis, the main criterion that makes it easier for the general public to understand whether a vaccine is reliable is its approval by various control agencies.

“The 3 currently available vaccines are approved and approved for use in the European Union, America and Asia. It is important to know that many documents and information are collected while registering medicines or vaccines ”, said prof. V. Usonis added that for this reason the AstraZeneca vaccine should not be feared.

The biggest problem is the lack of information and the condemnation of the skeptics

According to the interlocutor, Lithuanians lack reliable, freely accessible and simple information about vaccines, which raises various doubts. Furthermore, anyone who doubts or asks questions is usually condemned.

Therefore, a very bad practice is currently observed in Lithuania: if a person expresses doubts about the AstraZeneca vaccine or refuses to be vaccinated with it, various public figures start to condemn it, calling it ignorant, uneducated and a kind of hate speech.

“I really disagree categorically with any opposition when a person is ridiculed for their doubts. I am always in favor of dialogue. Look, all the polls that have been done, some in the fall, some now, show that about a quarter of people want more information. Here we return to the need for communication, more information from government structures, experts. They should talk more, they should listen to people’s questions and doubts, and they should respond.

The ministry recently announced that a public procurement tender will be launched and all communication work will begin. Those jobs were not supposed to start now, but in September, before the arrival of vaccines, so that people could express their doubts in a calm environment. I will repeat once again that skeptical people cannot be pressured. Communication, information and explanations are absolutely necessary, “said Prof. V. Usonis.

Calls not to be afraid of side effects

The main difference between Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca is the way they are made. The first two contain genetic information, also known as mRNA. This information is about the peak protein of the virus. As prof. skilled. Dr. Alvydas Laiškonis, infectologist, is made using only nucleic acid, which is introduced into the body and triggers the production of antibodies, leaving the memory in the cells. When the coronavirus enters the body, the production of antibodies begins.

At that time, the AstraZeneca vaccine substance, which causes the production of antibodies, is administered with an adenovirus. It is a putative viral carrier that is modified to contain a gene that encodes the coronavirus spike protein.

Simply put, Pfizer and Moderna do not contain any viruses, and AstraZeneca is a carrier virus called adenovirus. However, this does not mean that a person can be infected with this virus, it only performs the function of a carrier.

“The second difference is that Pfizer and Moderna are more efficient than AstraZeneca. This is not to say that AstraZeneca will protect only 60 to 70 percent of those vaccinated, but there has been a lot of mistrust among many. All 3 vaccines protect against the course of one severe illness. However, AstraZeneca side effects usually occur after the first dose, “said Prof. A. Laiškonis also recalled that after the other two coronavirus vaccines, side effects should be expected after the second dose. .

A third cause for concern among people, according to the professor, was that the makers of AstraZeneca initially thought that the vaccine had not been fully tested in the elderly. After all, there were only 10% in the clinical trial group. people over 65 years old.

“Also, some people are concerned that some countries are not vaccinating older people with the vaccine due to their lack of exposure. As a result, this vaccine has become seemingly unwanted, although it is actually a good one. manufacturers said a little later that it is possible to vaccinate all people, regardless of age, “said the infectologist.

The professor urges not to be afraid of the side effects that occur after the vaccine, because the side effects show that the body reacted violently to the introduced antigen and produced many antibodies.

“Let’s say if I don’t have any side effects after the second Pfizer vaccine, I’ll probably have to go get antibodies. There have been cases in the Kaunas clinics where two doses of Pfizer have been vaccinated and no antibodies have been found. People you are very afraid of that side effect. But you should not be afraid of it: take paracetamol, ibuprofen, you will suppress that stormy cytokine reaction and everything will be fine, “said prof. A. Laiškonis.

Why is AstraZeneca so much cheaper?

Another questionable issue is the price of vaccines. After all, AstraZeneca costs about 2 euros, Pfizer about 12 euros and Moderna about 20 euros. Some people are concerned that the AstraZeneca vaccine is the cheapest, so the quality is assumed to be the worst. However, both professors agree that the efficacy of the vaccine cannot really be evaluated in terms of price.

Teacher. V. Usonis says that the price of the vaccine is determined by many factors, both the method of production and political and economic conditions.

At that time prof. A. Laiškonis says that logistics also contributes to price differences.

“Vaccines based on mRNA must be transported at a temperature of -80 degrees, and that transport is very expensive. This is forgotten. Take to -8 degrees or -80 degrees – the price varies immediately. You cannot say that something is worse for the price ”, said the interlocutor.

The infectologist also warns that people in constant change of decisions of the Government or of various commissions do not trust their communication.

“The downside is that various commissions in Lithuania are very distracted and provide different information. I am also concerned that we are not thinking about the future yet. We need to train epidemiologists: the pandemic will continue for several more years and they will undoubtedly be necessary. We have several epidemiologists, but if something happens, who will speak for them? In Sweden, the management of the pandemic is led by an epidemiologist, as well as in England and the Americas. We are headed by the Prime Minister.

I wonder if an educator and an engineer, after all, my neighbor’s chef, can get caught up in so much information that doesn’t match. As an infectologist I can see it, but it is very difficult for other people “, summarized the infectologist, and reiterated that the AstraZeneca vaccine is suitable for vaccination, protects against serious forms of the disease and is effective, so it is not worth worrying. on.