Oh, the COVID-19 pandemic. All of us who lived it will never forget it, that’s for sure. The year 2020 was an unforgettable year. The world felt like it stopped. And we were all waiting for the potential “cure”, the arrival of the vaccines.
Due to the emergency in which the world was sunk, the vaccine was developed very quickly. This made many people to untrust it and refer to it as unsafe. However, it is just one more resistance, such as the use of face masks.
Unfortunately, there has been a lot of misinformation surrounding vaccines and their development. When deciding whether to get the vaccine, it’s important to separate myths from facts.
How do COVID-19 vaccines affect people who are immunocompromised? People suffering from autoimmune conditions such as Crohn’s and ankylosing spondylitis, and for which they are taking medications might have a reason to be concerned about the COVID-19 vaccine. Why?
What About The Immunocompromised?
Immune system disorders cause abnormally low activity or overactivity of the immune system. Some examples of autoimmune diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, among others.
Immune deficiency diseases decrease the body’s ability to fight invaders, causing vulnerability to infections.
The medication for autoimmune conditions increases people’s susceptibility to infection. This type of medication usually suppresses the immune system of people taking it. What it does is that it blocks a substance in the body that is responsible for inflammation and eventually leads to immune-system diseases.
Double Care
People with autoimmune conditions are required to duplicate the care they take. They should follow all the security measures even if they are fully vaccinated. They shouldn’t be maskless, in order to avoid spreading respiratory droplets and should avoid having friends and family over their home.
Many health experts and scientists state that there is some concern that the COVID-19 vaccine will not protect people who are immunocompromised. And even though more research needs to be conducted, they encourage people to get the vaccine.
However, even if a person has an immune deficiency disease, they must get vaccinated. Many people are scared because they are concerned about how effective the COVID-19 vaccine will be on them. So here’s the answer: it will also protect them and it will effectively prevent COVID-19 infection.
Hopefully, things will go back to normal pretty soon.
