The COVID-19 situation is severe. How can we protect ourselves and our families?

Recently, the number of new COVID-19 cases in many parts of China has increased again, which has made many people feel uneasy. However, the new coronavirus is preventable and controllable. As long as we do personal protection correctly and in a timely manner, we can completely reduce the chance of infection. "Everyone is the first person responsible for their own health." During the epidemic, we should better protect ourselves and our families.

At present, the most important measure for personal protection is to get vaccinated against COVID-19 . However, many people have various doubts about the COVID-19 vaccine, and I will try to answer them below.

01

6 questions and answers about vaccines

1. Can special groups such as the elderly, patients with underlying diseases, and patients with malignant tumors be vaccinated with the new coronavirus vaccine?

People aged 60 and above are at high risk of severe illness and death after being infected with the new coronavirus. The new coronavirus vaccines currently on the market have obtained relevant data for use in the elderly, proving that the new coronavirus vaccines are safe and effective for the elderly .

For patients with various chronic diseases, if their health condition is stable , their medication is well controlled, and they are not in the acute stage of the disease, they are not considered as a group of people who are contraindicated for new coronavirus vaccination, and vaccination is recommended .

The immune function of patients with malignant tumors may be impaired, and the protective effect of vaccines in this population may be reduced. According to the "Technical Guidelines for COVID-19 Vaccination (First Edition)", it is recommended to vaccinate with inactivated COVID-19 vaccines and recombinant protein vaccines [1].

In the early days of the vaccine, due to insufficient data, some people with special health conditions were advised to postpone COVID-19 vaccination. Now, a large amount of real data from around the world tells us that after the relevant population has completed basic immunization and received booster shots, even if they are infected with COVID-19, the probability of severe illness, the incidence of complications, and the possibility of death can be greatly reduced.

2. Where can I get vaccinated?

The new coronavirus vaccine can be administered in many institutions. Regular vaccination locations include community health service centers and health centers with preventive health departments, vaccination clinics set up by some disease control centers and private hospitals , and centralized vaccination points set up due to the need for epidemic prevention and control. Specific information on vaccination units can be obtained by calling the local county-level disease control and prevention center.

Specifically, you can:

1) Dial "114" to inquire about the telephone number of the CDC in your district or county or the telephone number of the vaccination clinic in the street;

2) Use the web map or mobile map software to check the telephone number of the CDC in your district or county or the telephone number of the vaccination clinic in your street;

3) Call the consultation hotline on the official website of the district or county CDC to inquire about vaccination clinic information;

4) Some local mobile applets can make online appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations, and specific information can be found online.

Image source: Made by the author

3. Who is not suitable for the COVID-19 vaccine?

There are indeed some groups of people who are not suitable for COVID-19 vaccination. For example, people who are allergic to vaccine ingredients or ingredients used in the production process, people who have had severe allergic reactions to vaccines, people who are experiencing fever, acute illness or acute exacerbation of chronic diseases, pregnant women, etc. For details, please consult the doctor at the vaccination unit [2].

4. What new coronavirus vaccines are available currently?

At present, the COVID-19 vaccines used in China include inactivated vaccines, recombinant protein vaccines, and adenovirus vector vaccines (including injection and inhalation formulations) . Residents can choose to be vaccinated based on the vaccine supply of the vaccination unit and the vaccination dose requirements. The specific information is as follows:

List of vaccines available for basic immunization and booster shots (compiled based on training materials and public reports). Image source: self-made by the author (click to view larger image)

5. Why do I need a booster shot?

After vaccination, our bodies will produce "antibodies" to fight the virus, but over time, the antibodies in the body will slowly be metabolized, resulting in a weakening of the protective effect [3, 4]. Therefore, we need to "strengthen" our immune system through booster shots to obtain better protection.

It should be noted that currently people who are allowed to receive booster shots are those who have received 2 doses of inactivated or 1 dose of adenovirus vector vaccine, and the booster shot should be ≥6 months apart from the last vaccination .

6. What should I pay attention to after vaccination?

After vaccination, you should observe your physical condition. If you experience pain at the injection site or low fever, you can generally treat the symptoms. If you feel serious discomfort, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible . Vaccines, like hand washing, ventilation, and social distance, are all measures to reduce the chance of contracting the virus. Therefore, daily hygiene habits should not be relaxed under any circumstances.

02

In addition to vaccination, these 4 points are also very important!

Vaccination can be regarded as the most important step for individuals to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to this step, other hygiene details cannot be relaxed during the epidemic:

1. Wear a mask correctly

The main way the new coronavirus is transmitted is through droplets and aerosols in respiratory secretions [5]. Therefore, we can block contact with respiratory secretions through a simple physical method such as "wearing a mask". A large number of studies have confirmed the effectiveness of wearing masks in public places in reducing the risk of new coronavirus [6, 7, 8].

It is important to note that daily use of medical surgical masks is sufficient for protection . It is generally not necessary to use more advanced N95 or KN95 masks, as wearing these masks for a long time may cause discomfort, including headaches[9].

2. Washing your hands is important

In addition to being transmitted to other people through respiratory secretions, the new coronavirus can also be transmitted through hands that come into contact with objects contaminated with the new coronavirus and then touch the eyes, nose, and mouth [10]. Studies have found that improving hand hygiene can reduce the possibility of new coronavirus infection , that is, reduce the risk of viral infection [11, 12].

Therefore, we should not only maintain hand hygiene, but also learn the correct way to wash our hands to reduce the possibility of contact with the virus[13].

3. Maintain social distance

Close contact with people infected with the new coronavirus carries a higher risk of infection, so it is important to maintain social distance. Studies have found that a distance of 1.5 meters can reduce the risk of virus infection by 5 times, and each additional meter of distance can reduce the risk by half [14].

However, it should be noted that the above mentioned is "physical social distance", and there should never be emotional barriers between people due to the new coronavirus.

4. Exercise

The saying that “exercise can reduce the risk of getting sick” also applies to COVID-19. Studies have found that regular exercise can reduce the risk of illness and death, and increase the cure rate, regardless of whether one is in a high-risk or low-risk area.[15]

However, any exercise should be done in moderation. High-intensity and strenuous exercise may not help the immune system, but may increase the risk of disease [16, 17]. In addition, don’t forget the physical protection measures mentioned above.

In fact, these measures have not only been mentioned repeatedly since the outbreak began, but are also something we often teach our children and make them familiar with. If you do this, you don't have to be particularly afraid of the new coronavirus.

In short, we should pay attention to the threat of the virus to health, and we should also pay equal attention to the ways to prevent virus infection. At the same time, we must also remember that these measures can not only protect ourselves, but also protect others.

References:

[1] Technical Guidelines for COVID-19 Vaccination (First Edition) [EB/OL]. National Health Commission. 2021-03-29. http://www.nhc.gov.cn/xcs/yqfkdt/202103/c2febfd04fc5498f916b1be080905771.shtml

[2] Questions and Answers on COVID-19 Vaccination (Updated on March 31, 2021) [EB/OL]. National Health Commission. 2021-04-01. http://www.nhc.gov.cn/wjw/hygq/202104/8e62004e41d648d5a084b3fb7bf098ea.shtml

[3] Can, Gunay et al. “Waning effectiveness of CoronaVac in real life: A retrospective cohort study in health care workers.” Vaccine vol. 40,18 (2022): 2574-2579. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.03.032

[4] Suah, Jing Lian et al. "Waning COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness for BNT162b2 and CoronaVac in Malaysia: An Observational Study." International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases vol. 119 (2022): 69-76. doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2022.03.028

[5] Meyerowitz, Eric A et al. “Transmission of SARS-CoV-2: A Review of Viral, Host, and Environmental Factors.” Annals of internal medicine vol. 174,1 (2021): 69-79. doi:10.7326/M20-5008

[6] Wang, Yuxin et al. “How effective is a mask in preventing COVID-19 infection?.” Medical devices & sensors vol. 4,1 (2021): e10163. doi:10.1002/mds3.10163

[7] Andrejko, Kristin L et al. “Effectiveness of Face Mask or Respirator Use in Indoor Public Settings for Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Infection - California, February-December 2021.” MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report vol. 71,6 212-216. 11 Feb. 2022, doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7106e1

[8] Leech, Gavin et al. “Mask wearing in community settings reduces SARS-CoV-2 transmission.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America vol. 119,23 (2022): e2119266119. doi:10.1073/pnas.2119266119

[9] Kunstler, Breanne et al. “P2/N95 respirators & surgical masks to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection: Effectiveness & adverse effects.” Infection, disease & health vol. 27,2 (2022): 81-95. doi:10.1016/j.idh.2022.01.001

[10] Natnael, Tarikuwa et al. “Hand hygiene practices during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated factors among barbers and beauty salon workers in Ethiopia.” PloS one vol. 17,7 e0269225. 1 Jul. 2022, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0269225

[11] Gozdzielewska, Lucyna et al. "The effectiveness of hand hygiene interventions for preventing community transmission or acquisition of novel coronavirus or influenza infections: a systematic review." BMC public health vol. 22,1 1283. 2 Jul. 2022, doi:10.1186/s12889-022-13667-y

[12] Beale, Sarah et al. “Hand Hygiene Practices and the Risk of Human Coronavirus Infections in a UK Community Cohort.” Wellcome Open Research vol. 5 98. 22 Jun. 2021, doi:10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15796.2

[13] Toney-Butler TJ, Gasner A, Carver N. Hand Hygiene. [Updated 2022 Aug 1]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470254/

[14] Sun, Kai Sing et al. “Effectiveness of different types and levels of social distancing measures: a scoping review of global evidence from earlier stage of COVID-19 pandemic.” BMJ open vol. 12,4 e053938. 11 Apr. 2022, doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053938

[15] doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0275425

[16] Rahmati-Ahmadabad, Saleh, and Fahimeh Hosseini. “Exercise against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19): Does workout intensity matter? (A mini review of some indirect evidence related to obesity).” Obesity medicine vol. 19 (2020): 100245. doi:10.1016/j.obmed.2020.100245

[17] Martin, Stephen A et al. “Exercise and respiratory tract viral infections.” Exercise and sport sciences reviews vol. 37,4 (2009): 157-64. doi:10.1097/JES.0b013e3181b7b57b

Author: Shao Yinan