Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Brain Hospital Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Specialist Dr. Songül Özer made evaluations on the vaccine, which is the hope for the pandemic.
After the severe consequences of the pandemic, the whole world is waiting for the vaccine studies to be completed and implemented. Stating that the vaccine will primarily be administered to those who have never met the virus, experts say that the vaccine should not be seen as the only protective factor and that the measures taken so far should be maintained. In the summer of 2021, experts predict that the use of masks can be stopped, and even if the vaccine is administered, especially social distance and regular hand washing measures should be maintained.
Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Hospital Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Specialist Dr. Songül Özer made evaluations about the vaccine, which is the hope for the pandemic.
Vaccine is the creation of a cell response against bacteria or virus
Prof. Dr. Songül Özer stated that the vaccine was developed to strengthen the body's immune system against a bacterium or virus and said, "The vaccine is the introduction of microorganisms, whose disease-causing effects and disease-causing powers have been taken away, that is, their harmless or weakened forms are given to the body. Thus, it means stimulating the necessary antibody response, that is, the immune system, providing the necessary immunity and creating a cell response."
The vaccine introduces bacteria or virus to the body
Noting that with the vaccine, the body is stimulated with microorganisms that are weakened or do not have the power to cause disease, Dr. Songül Özer stated that the vaccine introduces that bacteria or virus to the body in a sense and said, "You introduce this virus or bacteria to the body's memory cells. One day, when the reality of this bacteria or the reality of this virus, that is, the one capable of causing disease, enters the human body, the body can respond faster because it recognizes it from the previous vaccine study and gains time by releasing antibodies that can kill it completely on the virus or bacteria as soon as possible. In fact, the vaccine is the process of introducing the weak form of the disease-causing bacteria or virus to the body."
Why should we get vaccinated?
Stating that vaccination is important in the treatment of epidemic diseases, Dr. Songül Özer said, "There are some soldiers in our body, in our immune system. We have to introduce this enemy to these soldiers, that is, the bacteria or virus in its weak state, so that when the stronger one comes, we will be prepared when the disease-causing microorganism comes to the body."
The number of infections is expected to decrease in spring
Stating that many scientists have made predictions about how long the coronavirus will remain in our lives, Özer said, "Covid-19 infection will be with us for a while longer. We will continue to live with coronavirus infection in 2021. At the first stage, Biontech company stated that it could present the vaccine it produced in December to the world and start its application. Let's assume that vaccine studies started in mid-December. Considering that the second doses were made in January, we expect the number of coronavirus infections to decrease in February, March or spring."
Precautions should continue even if vaccinated
Prof. Dr. Songül Özer said that the only positive factor about the coronavirus will not be the vaccine and continued her words as follows:
"The vaccine will only increase our strength. The vaccine will never be the only protective factor we have against coronavirus. Let's talk about what we have been practicing since the past. For example, we know that jaundice, Hepatitis B, is transmitted sexually and through blood. There is a vaccine for this and we get it. However, being vaccinated against Hepatitis B does not mean that you can give or receive blood to anyone you want without being tested throughout your life, or that you can have unprotected sexual intercourse with the idea that you have protection against sexually transmitted diseases. We know that that vaccine does not protect 100 percent either. The same will be true for the coronavirus vaccine. People should not think, 'I got the vaccine, I am protected forever, I will not need to wear a mask, wash my hands and keep my distance. Even with the most successful vaccine in the world, there is a percentage of non-protection."
Mask use can be stopped next summer
Özer said that if everything goes well, he thinks that the use of masks can stop in the summer of 2021, "However, even if we stop using masks, we should continue to pay attention to our distance. Unfortunately, it will take 3-4 years to return to the old normal. We will pay attention to our distance, we will not have crowded parties, crowded meetings. Ten, twenty people will not be together, even if we are together, we will pay attention to our distance as soon as we sit together. We will have to keep a distance of 1 - 1.5 meters. Of course, we will always wash our hands because we do not wash our hands only to protect ourselves from coronavirus infection. We will always continue to wash our hands to get rid of many bacteria and viruses that exist in our environment, both to prevent them from infecting us and not to infect other people."
Priority in vaccination will be given to those who have not met the virus
Stating that it is a controversial issue for people who have survived Covid-19 to be vaccinated, Özer concluded his words as follows:
"In order to be vaccinated, first of all, the antibody level, that is, immunoglobulin m and immunoglobulin g must be negative in people who have had coronavirus and in people who have not had it. We must not have met this virus before. If we have had the coronavirus and have persistent, high levels of immunoglobulin g, that is, protective antibodies, we have already been vaccinated naturally. Our body has recognized this microorganism, placed it in its memory cells and we will think of it as vaccinated. In the first plan, we will give the vaccine to those who have never met this disease, that is, those who have both immunoglobulin m and immunoglobulin g negative. But there are those who have had Covid-19, but their immunoglobulin g levels have not increased. We have encountered this situation in some patients. A study can be conducted to vaccinate those whose immunoglobulin g has not risen or has become negative after rising. If the person is in a risk group due to age, living environment or profession, there may be a possibility of vaccination in the second stage."
