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Ask a Specialist: COVID-19 Vaccine with Prof. Sibrandes Poppema (Part 2) | Otter.ai

Ask a Specialist: COVID-19 Vaccine with Prof. Sibrandes Poppema (Part 2)

Raihan Rahman14min

Prof. Sibrandes Poppema

00:03

But that's the only situation. There's no other allergies food allergies and so on, are really not a problem.

PC Gan

00:14

Okay, um, Professor, we have answered this question before, but I would like to attend this on my own so that I understand what you have taught me so far, but please correct me if I'm wrong, so the question is, how long will the vaccine immunity last. So if I understood you correctly, it really is dependent on the body to produce the antibody. So, the last time when it was tested between the first dose and second dose, it could be two weeks, but what we have learned is that, even between the first dose and second dose, the body will also start to produce this immunity on our own because of whatever that's being injected to our body. Hence, yeah, it lasts, and a second dose is meant to be a booster. So, am I correct? and-

Prof. Sibrandes Poppema

01:12

You know the real basis of this question is, is how long will the immunity, stay around, and what we do know is now that it is at least six months because there's been people that were vaccinated six months ago and still produce even produce the antibodies. And what I'm saying is that we focus a little bit too much on those antibodies, because that's not the only part of the immunity. In addition to the antibodies, there's also the cellular immune response of the T lymphocytes, which is very important and perhaps some of you remember that a couple of months ago, there were also some reports saying that some people that have never been in touch with the COVID virus already had some immune response against the virus.

Prof. Sibrandes Poppema

02:11

And the reason for that was that COVID COVID-19. This virus is not the only Coronavirus, you know, there are other Coronaviruses that give us common colds, there's two that frequently, turn up, and so some people will have had those infections with those Coronaviruses, and we'll have an immune response against those and particularly, they will have this T cell immune response. And those people already have more protection against the virus than people that never had such infections. So I think the bottom line is that once you have been vaccinated, you will have protection for a considerable period of time. And we do not know yet how often we will have to give a boost. That is dependent on two things one is how long will the immune response hold on. With this one, and the second one is to which extent will the variants be different from the original virus. So when we talk about influenza, we know that there are so many different strains of influenza now, that every time for vaccination every year. we need to make a prediction for which strain to vaccinate for the, for the next year because some strains have been around 10 or 20 years ago, and all of a sudden they come back, and then we vaccinate for those, it is possible that in the future. Coronavirus will become like that, and that each year we will need to think, you know, will it be the South African variant, or will it be another variant that is likely to come this year, particularly during the winter, and may we need to give a boost for that, we simply do not know that yet. But, you know, scientists are preparing for that they thinking about it, that's why it's very important to test, which strains are there, you know you've recently read that Malaysia also has found, you know a number of South African variants and a couple of UK variants, and so on. Another one and Thailand variant. It's important to follow that, so we know what we are dealing with. Maybe another thing that's important to know is that, you know, when we are talking about these various, and we are talking about variants of concern. And we are talking about variants of interest. So one variant of concern. Basically what can happen when

Prof. Sibrandes Poppema

05:06

the virus mutates and leads to a variant is that a couple of different things can happen. So theoretically, the virus could become, you know, much more serious so leading to a much more serious disease than the original one. In fact, that has not happened so far. The second thing that can happen is that it's becoming more infected. That has happened. So the UK variants was more effective than the original strain the South African variant was more effective than the original strain, so that's. And so those are being called variants of concern. The third thing that can happen is that it changes to a degree that the immune system cannot recognise it that well. So that's why people look at whether it protects equally well for the variables. As for the original strain, and in some situation with some of the vaccine it's been shown that the protection against the variants is somewhat less. It's still protected but somewhat less than was the original strain. So far, there is no major concern, because all the different vaccines have been shown to also give protection against the variants, but that's one of the risks so the three risks, more serious, more infective, or less, responding to the immune response of our current vaccines. So far, it's all in the control but that's really what we worried about so that's why we follow all of the different variants, and that's why we want to know whether they respond well to the vaccine.

PC Gan

06:53

Wow, so that means our researchers and scientists have been working very hard in making sure that you know they are on top of all the new variants that's popping up, and it has been more than a year.

Prof. Sibrandes Poppema

07:08

Okay, yeah, but people have been done in a year's time, it's amazing, you know this is really a triumph of science, there's not enough appreciation for that. But you know having the sequence of the virus in, in, you know two weeks or so after finding the virus has never happened before in all of our history, you know, having vaccines that have been fully tested found to be safe and efficient in such a short period has never happened before. And so, that's not a reason to be worried, everything has been done proper. Everything has been tested proper, you know by the ones producing it by different bodies that investigated by WHO here in Malaysia by the authorities, and only after that, they are being made available to the public.

PC Gan

08:10

So there's there are a lot of things that has been put into the procedure that we have been following the procedure and the policies. Anyway, so there's nothing for US citizens to worry about that. Wow 15 minutes into this maybe we will take maybe a few more questions. Okay, so let's look into another one. If I have a severe allergy to medications such as paracetamol, can I still get vaccinated.

Prof. Sibrandes Poppema

08:42

Yes, there is your answer. No problem.

PC Gan

08:48

Okay, um,

Prof. Sibrandes Poppema

08:50

I think the reason is, maybe I should explain a little bit. The reason is there's no paracetamol in the vaccine. The only worry would be for products that you are allergic for that are in the vaccine, then there would be concerned that paracetamol, is that the components of paracetamol, are not in the vaccine so there's no worry.

PC Gan

09:17

Okay. I think the rest of the questions were actually answered earlier on, maybe because we have us coming in. A lot later but I'm sure this video will be, it's already recorded and it will be shared. Maybe. Okay, I think there's one here that is he's a little bit worried, I guess, is there an issue with using different vaccine brands for first and second dose, possibly due to limited supply, for example first dose is Pfizer or second dose, this is it. I think this was answered earlier on, but maybe just

Prof. Sibrandes Poppema

09:59

A different twist on it. I think that in general. The approach is for the vaccinations, when you're getting vaccinated, that at the point where you get your first vaccination. The second dose is also reserved for you, so you get an appointment for the second dose. Three weeks later, with the same vaccine, that's the general approach here in Malaysia. So, in that case there's no concern, because when you get your first doses, the second dose is also is already secured.

PC Gan

10:34

Okay. Maybe we will then take the last question here, Professor. Is it advisable to take vaccine, if I am allergic to penicillin?

Prof. Sibrandes Poppema

10:47

Yeah, that's fine as well because, again, there's no penicillin in the vaccine. So you know all of the things when you're not feeling certain you can always go to your doctor and ask, but a general answer is that there's no worry, unless it's been for anything that was in a previous vaccine or in a previous injection with a drug. So, then you really have to talk to the doctor and make sure.

PC Gan

11:19

Okay. All right, we have an audience here who is afraid of needles. I'm not sure about this but yeah the last, last question is, any needle-free COVID-19 vaccination?

Prof. Sibrandes Poppema

11:34

They're coming. Because, of course, it's quite possible to also, sort of, inhale, you know, take it through the nose, they're not yet available. They will be coming. But I think what is a much better approach is you go and sit down. You roll up your sleeves, so that's one of the things to make sure when you go for your vaccination to wear clothing where it's easy to roll up your sleeve, you, you look at somebody else who is near to you. And you talk to them, and you will not even feel the injection. So don't look. Don't look at your arm. Look at somebody who's with you, talk to them, and then you will notice that the injection has been and you didn't even notice.

PC Gan

12:28

Okay. All right, thank you so much, Professor for taking the time in answering all our doubts, all our questions I think it's such an important time to just equip ourselves with all this information. So maybe the last one from yourself to all Malaysians out there what's that advice that you want to give all of us?

Prof. Sibrandes Poppema

12:51

Absolutely go vaccinated, so you know three things, vaccination, vaccination and vaccination. It is so important, not just for yourself but also for your environment so you do it for your parents. You do it for people that cannot be vaccinated. That's why you are doing it. And on top of that, it's protecting yourself, but it will enable us to get out of this lockdown, it will enable us to return to a much more normal life, it will enable us to have economic activity again. And that's why we need to do it altogether.

PC Gan

13:41

Yes, it's our social responsibility. Okay. All right, So just for everyone, this is health information provided for all of us in general, it's also for educational purpose. It is not a substitute for professional health advice so if you do have any questions at all regarding allergies or side effects, please go and see the doctor. All right. Okay, thank you again so much professor for your time. And we will see you soon. Please take care and stay safe.

Prof. Sibrandes Poppema

14:17

Thank you for having me. Bye bye.

PC Gan

14:19

Bye.

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