7 Protocols After COVID-19 Vaccination That You Must Follow To Stay Safe

“Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.”

Nowadays, it has become a status symbol of having a selfie with your first dose of vaccination & such posts have flooded all over social media platforms. Ahhhh…. Jokes apart! Have you taken your COVID-19 vaccine either, Covishield, Covaxin or Sputnik V?  If not, then you must get it done as soon as possible for your and your family's sake.

After going through these CORONA times, we got to get familiar with various new words like lockdown, quarantine, vaccination protocol, herd immunity, etc which we weren’t aware of. While we all are getting hyped with some rumors regarding protocols and vaccination. But the good news is more than 10 crores of people are fully vaccinated in India. Isn’t that amazing? 

Before reading about the protocols and why we should follow the protocols after Covid-19 Vaccination? Let’s just learn about Herd Immunity. 

What is Herd Immunity?

Herd immunity is commonly also known as Population immunity. It simply means a state when most of the population is immune against an infectious disease that is likely to spread from person to person, creating an indirect form of protection for those who are not immune to the disease. 

I am sure by now we have reached a stage of asking the question that “How long will this coronavirus gonna last?” 

Maybe Herd Immunity is an answer to this! Though this pandemic is marked as uncertain, still, it is expected to block transmission via a herd-immunity threshold. The herd-immunity threshold is 80% of the estimated population have active immunity, either through vaccination or past exposure to the virus. 

Why Herd immunity is important? Many scientists think that once the community starts getting herd immunization, it would probably permit society to return to their usual life routine. 

So, if you haven’t got vaccinated yet, Find a vaccine near you!

As India has already hit the 3rd wave of Covid-19, where it calls for the importance of immunisation and protocol to be followed after Covid-19 Vaccination. Still, many of us are confused with various questions like which vaccine is more effective? Or is it safe for pregnant women? And many more. 

Let us help you clear your doubts.

Which vaccine is safe for you?

According to WHO, it is advised to take any approved vaccine which is easily available to you first, even if you have already had infected with Covid-19. It is essential to be vaccinated as soon as possible without waiting for a particular vaccine. Following are the list of approved vaccines available in India (Statement passed in media by Dr. VK Paul, Health Member, Niti Aayog) 

• Bharat Biotech Vaccine “COVAXIN”
• Covishield Vaccine
• Russian Vaccine “SPUTNIK V” 
• Moderna Vaccine 

Pfizer vaccine is yet not included in the list but is expected to be approved once the deal is finalized with Pfizer Inc. 

Who is eligible for vaccination?

WHO has already declared that Covid-19 vaccines are safe for adults of 18 years and above. It includes people who are suffering from hypertension, diabetes, asthma, pulmonary, liver, and kidney disease, as well as chronic infections but that is under controlled situations.

Even Pregnant ladies should get vaccinated and it is safe for ladies who are already breastfeeding as they should continue feeding after vaccination. However, if you have a weak immune system or are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a record of severe allergies to any of the ingredients of the vaccine. Then, you should consult your doctor before having your corona vaccination.

Pfizer vaccine is marked as suitable for children aged 12 years and above by WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE). While India hasn’t taken any major decision on this yet.

What are the minor side effects of the vaccine? It is totally normal if you feel the following minor side effects after your vaccination shots. It remarks a sign of passive immunity that a person’s body is building a shield against COVID-19 infection. Minor side effects of the vaccine are:

• Mild Fever
• Arm Soreness
• Tiredness
• Headache
• Muscle or joint aches

If any of these side effects happen to you after vaccination, it is recommended to take paracetamol or any painkiller. But doctors advise not to take any painkillers or paracetamol before vaccination. 

Continue reading this blog as these points are a must to take care of your health. 

Before learning more about after vaccination protocols, let’s search protocol meaning in Hindi. Naahhh……...you do not have to do that!!! It simply means a set of guidelines issued by some medical experts. 

Here we go with the highlight of this blog, “Why we should follow these protocols after Covid-19 vaccination?” 

Why you should avoid consuming alcohol after taking the Covid-19 vaccine? 

Many experts are advising to avoid alcohol consumption for one or two weeks after vaccination. It is recommended because after vaccination there is a processing period of vaccine which tends to show up some after-effects on the body. So, except for, usual symptoms of fatigue, fever, and tiredness in the body, alcohol can have a frail effect and dehydrate you. Note this as your major precaution after vaccination. 

Why you should continue wearing a mask after vaccination? 

There is a myth in the community that society will be set free from the “annoying masks” after a complete dose of vaccination. Sorry to say but that isn’t possible for now at least. It is preferred to continue wearing double masks to reduce exposure to the deadly virus. Since it has been proven that these vaccines do not make you 100% immune to coronavirus. While it will curb the impact of the virus to a maximum extent but you will still be at risk to infection even after being fully vaccinated.

Why after vaccination you should stay at home for 2 weeks? 

You are advised by medical experts that after complete dosage of vaccination do not step out of your house for a minimum of 15 days except for urgency with preventive measures. The covid-19 vaccine is a sort of infusing passive immunization among the masses. So, after having second dose, antibodies require 15 days to reach the required protection level against covid 19.  

Why you should avoid exhausting activities within the first 24 hours of vaccination? 

The protocol of avoiding strenuous activities for the next 24 hours of vaccination is important because person to person after effect of vaccination may vary. It is subjective advice that totally depends on how your body reacts to the vaccination. Getting sound sleep for your body may give your body a period of time to overcome such effects. It is always recommended to start with light exercise after 24hours to better flow of blood and energy. 

Why you should maintain 6 feet distance in crowded places? 

As mentioned before, just the way masks are important to prevent infection after complete vaccination, maintaining 6 feet distance is equally important. It is good to take some extra precautions rather than fall for it. After vaccination, you can accept returning to your usual life but avoid getting into overcrowded places and keep your hands sanitized properly. 

Why you should have an adequate time gap between the two covid-19 vaccine doses? 

A time gap of the vaccination is not regulated with the availability of vaccination in the country. While scientists asked to maintain a proper time gap between the doses to optimize the vaccine efficacy. If we talk about Covishield, it is a gap of a minimum of 6 weeks is advised whereas for Covaxin a minimum of 4 weeks is required to make the body familiarized with the vaccine. Mark your calendar after your first dose to remember your second dose. You can know the gap and your next dose date on the Cowin App/website as well.

Why you should have plenty of fluids after vaccination? 

You might have heard during this covid period “have boiled water.” However, we are not specifically recommending cold or boiled water. As per medical experts, it is advisable to keep your body hydrated after vaccination. So, have as much fluids in your diet to keep your body away from dehydration. 

Conclusion:

So, this was all about the protocols that you must follow to ensure that everyone is safe in this pandemic. Have you read about the new delta variant of covid? If not then you must check this blog out! 

Remember these protocols are not a stated guideline while these are some protective measures that one should follow for self-protection and to prevent virus transmission. Schedule your vaccination slot if not vaccinated yet and share the right information among the community. 

Get Vaccinated, Stay Safe!