Can a person become infected with coronavirus after vaccination?
Most experts agree that the vaccine does not provide 100% protection against infection.
If a large dose of the pathogen enters the body of a vaccinated person, this can cause a so-called immune breakthrough. “A person who has been vaccinated may think that they can no longer be infectious and cannot become infected themselves. But this is not true. After vaccination, there is still a small risk of infection, although if it occurs, the disease will not be severe,” explained infectious disease specialist and vaccinologist Evgeniy Timakov. The company that developed the EpiVacCorona vaccine warned that a person with developed immunity in contact with a coronavirus patient may become ill within a month after vaccination, but in this case the virus will not cause complications or death. Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova stated that the immune response to the vaccine against coronavirus infection is formed within 42 days after the first injection. Therefore, all this time it is important to follow preventive measures in order not to become infected with COVID-19: refrain from visiting crowded places, observe the mask regime and hygiene rules, minimize contacts, maintain social distance, limit the intake of alcohol and medications that suppress the immune system.
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Today, Russians can be vaccinated with two domestic vaccines - Gam-Covid-Vac (Sputnik V). The third vaccine, CoviVac, developed by the Chumakov Center, is in the final stage of testing and will go into public circulation by the end of March.
- "EpiVacCorona": effectiveness is 100%; immune protection is expected to last for at least a year.
- "Gam-Covid-Vac": effectiveness is 91.4%, against severe disease - 100%; immune protection is expected to last for two years (nine months has already been proven).
- "CoviVac": effectiveness is 85%; The duration of immunity will be announced after the completion of clinical trials.
Is a person contagious after vaccination?
According to the chief freelance therapist of the Ministry of Health, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Oksana Drapkina, during vaccination a person cannot infect others. However, according to Timakov, there is a small risk of infection, but it is not associated with the coronavirus vaccine. The doctor explains this by the fact that when vaccinated against COVID-19, people do not develop local immunity of the mucous membranes. This means that once SARS-CoV-2 gets on, for example, the nasal mucosa, it can multiply and can be transmitted to other people by sneezing. “Vaccination prevents the virus from entering the body so that the infection does not reach the organ that it can infect. Vaccination will most likely not increase the local immunity of the mucous membranes, so the coronavirus will be able to catch on and begin to multiply in the nasopharynx. Thus, the person will become a source of infection,” the expert explained.
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Allergist-immunologist Vladimir Bolibok shares a similar opinion. In his opinion, those who have been vaccinated may not get sick with COVID-19 themselves, but they can infect others with the coronavirus. “Vaccination protects against infection - that is, if the virus gets into the nose, the person will not get sick, but he will be a virus carrier,” he said.
Health Minister Mikhail Murashko explained the importance of wearing masks, including to those who have been vaccinated: “Vaccination reliably protects against severe illness and, in the vast majority of cases, against the disease, but a vaccinated person can nevertheless transmit the infection to those who are not protected ", said Murashko.
Should you get vaccinated?
(my opinion) I think it's worth it. But all children should not receive the same schedule and the same vaccinations. There are different degrees of vaccine purification and various health problems, including hidden ones in children. In my opinion, the density of vaccinations in the first year of a baby’s life is too high. If you are in doubt whether to vaccinate or not, and how often, it is best to consult an immunologist before doing so. No one has the right to force parents to vaccinate their children and refusal to vaccinate is voluntary. But it is worth remembering the responsibility to the child in case of illness. By the way, these institutions will also not be able to refuse to take a child to kindergarten or school due to lack of vaccinations, but there is a risk for the child himself of catching the disease in a large gathering of children. Therefore, it is better to vaccinate, but not all in the first year of a child’s life, as is convenient for the healthcare system. Author of the article: massage therapist Alexey Vladimirovich Matrosov.
What not to do immediately after vaccination
You cannot hide from doctors the presence of any symptoms after vaccination. Allergic reactions, high fever, severe headaches or muscle pain, shortness of breath, cough, runny nose, sore throat, especially if these reactions last for more than three to five days, are a reason to see a doctor, warns vaccinologist Evgeny Timakov. This may no longer be a reaction to the vaccine, but signs of the disease.
After vaccination with Sputnik V, the Ministry of Health recommends not getting the injection site wet for three days, not visiting the sauna or bathhouse, not drinking alcohol and avoiding excessive physical activity. In turn, Rospotrebnadzor after vaccination recommended not to overcool, not overheat and avoid stress to the body, as well as avoid foods that can provoke an allergic reaction.
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How to help your immune system after vaccination
The chief freelance nutritionist of the Russian Ministry of Health, Viktor Tutelyan, recommends that everyone who has been vaccinated against coronavirus “pay attention to vitamins, primarily vitamin D,” and, if necessary, eliminate its deficiency. You also need to consume foods high in protein. “Why a vaccine is administered is to stimulate the production of specific antibodies, and antibodies are protein structures. For this, there is a great need for protein. What is this - meat, fish, eggs. We need to make sure that this is included in the diet,” Tutelyan explained.
Is it possible to massage a child after vaccination?
One of the most important procedures for infants is massage. It helps to improve the child’s well-being, restore blood circulation and develop the muscular system. All this is especially necessary for children who do not yet move independently and whose muscles do not experience the necessary stress.
Some parents prefer to do massage on their own, some make an appointment with a specialist, and then the main dilemma arises: how to combine massage procedures with the necessary vaccinations, and whether it is worth canceling the planned session after vaccination.
For a child’s still fragile body, vaccination can be a serious burden and lead to a decrease in immunity. In the post-vaccination period, the child is more vulnerable and should be protected from additional tests, which may include massage.
Depending on your age, health status and reaction to the vaccine, your doctor will be able to tell you with certainty whether the procedure is worth it. In most cases, pediatricians say that a massage session can be performed, but only after a certain time after vaccination.
One of the most difficult for a child’s body is the DPT vaccination. After it, you should especially carefully monitor the baby’s condition to prevent the development of complications.
Should those who have already had the disease be vaccinated?
Those who have recovered from COVID-19 and have IgG antibodies, which are responsible for stable immunity to infection, do not need vaccination, says Oksana Drapkina. “Patients who have had the disease and have immunoglobulin G antibodies are not currently vaccinated,” she said.
Before vaccination, it is advisable to get tested for antibodies. If the IgG level is above 10, then immunity has already formed and vaccination is not necessary.
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According to the head of the department of general virology of the Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immunobiological Preparations named after. M.P. Chumakov RAS, Professor Georgy Ignatiev, the presence of antibodies to coronavirus in the blood is a contraindication for participation in vaccine trials. In other words, if a person has recently had COVID-19, he cannot be vaccinated. “Since the current criteria for medical eligibility for participation in clinical trials is a previous infection, it turns out that people who have had COVID-19 do not need to be vaccinated. But how long does post-infectious immunity last? The level of antibodies is constantly falling over time, and the antibodies should be expected to go away. And then the person will need to be vaccinated,” Ignatiev explained.
Why children are not vaccinated against COVID-19
There is no need to vaccinate children against coronavirus en masse, said the head of Rospotrebnadzor, Anna Popova. “We don’t vaccinate children yet, there is no need for mass immunization of children, children tolerate [the disease] very easily, immunity is developed quickly even in the absence of symptoms,” she explained.
Infectious disease doctor Evgeniy Timakov shares a similar opinion: “Children do not get sick so seriously and severely, so getting vaccinated is not a priority for them now.”
Recently, clinical trials of the Sputnik V vaccine in the form of nasal drops for young children - up to 3-4 years old - began in Russia. As the director of the center, Alexander Gintsburg, said, “this is, of course, a very gentle and convenient form of vaccination for children.” In addition, it is “completely devoid of any side effects.” The tests are planned to be completed this year, Gunzburg said. Adults can also use the spray vaccine, but this procedure will not replace traditional vaccination.
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When and who can get vaccinated?
Vaccination against coronavirus is allowed 30 days after any other vaccinations, according to the Moscow mayor’s website. However, it does not protect against the flu, so it is recommended to get both vaccinations. Coronavirus vaccination recommendations also state that the vaccine should not be given to those who have suffered acute coronary syndrome or stroke in the past year. Contraindications also include chronic systemic infections, tuberculosis, neoplasms, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, and HIV.
Those who do not have a high temperature (37 °C or more) will be able to get vaccinated. Before the procedure, the patient must be examined by a health care worker, who must be informed about existing chronic diseases, other vaccinations, and previous acute respiratory viral infections. Based on these data, the decision on vaccination will be made.
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“In addition, both women and men should not take part in the study if they plan to conceive a child in the next three months,” the mayor’s website states.
According to the chief freelance specialist in obstetrics and gynecology of the Russian Ministry of Health, Professor Leila Adamyan, it is better to start planning a pregnancy or undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) two to three months after vaccination against coronavirus. “Even a couple who does not want to have a child today, but has one in the project, must be vaccinated [against coronavirus], and in the near future - [in] two, maximum three months, can switch to IVF and planning pregnancy directly.” , said Adamyan.
The doctor assures that the risk of complications after vaccination is “a thousand times lower” than harm to the body from COVID-19, especially if it is severe. It is worth considering the influence of special medications that are used to treat the disease.
When can you get a massage after vaccination?
Parents of a newborn child should wait 5-7 days after vaccination . If at the end of this period the child does not have a fever and feels healthy, then you can return to massage.
If your child is already older, and his body has already recovered from the vaccination, then the massage course can be restored as early as 3-5 days.
DTP vaccination
After DTP vaccination, procedures can be resumed no earlier than 5 days after the baby’s vaccination, since it most often causes side effects and complications in patients, because contains weakened genes of three diseases: whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus.
If, a week after the child’s vaccination, a lump remains at the injection site, but there are no other side effects, massage is allowed, but you should avoid massaging this area.
After the Mantoux test, there is no break in the massage; this is only relevant after vaccinations with BCG, DPT, vaccines against hepatitis, polio and others. However, it is advisable not to stimulate the vaccination site until the doctor has taken the indications.
Is the coronavirus vaccine safe for older people?
According to the chief physician of the hospital in Kommunarka, Denis Protsenko, vaccination against coronavirus will help reduce mortality among elderly patients with confirmed COVID-19. The level of antibodies in older people after vaccination against coronavirus is usually lower than in young people, said Deputy Head of Rospotrebnadzor Tatyana Nepomnyashchikh. “If the antibody level is zero, something must have gone wrong. Maybe the person had health problems or was simply overworked at the time of vaccination. Or he has an acquired or permanent immunodeficiency. “In older people, the immune response takes longer to form than in young people, and their antibody levels tend to be lower,” she noted.
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Vaccination for elderly patients will be safe if the patients do not have exacerbations of chronic diseases, they have not had ARVI for two weeks before vaccination and have not received other vaccinations for 30 days, said Andrei Tyazhelnikov, chief freelance specialist in primary health care for adults. “I would like to say that the oldest Muscovite vaccinated against coronavirus is 104 years old <...> In total, more than 700,000 people in Moscow have been vaccinated against coronavirus, of which 50% are over 60 years old,” he noted. The expert recalls that citizens over 60 years of age are in the highest risk group and are more susceptible to coronavirus. “In fact, vaccination is the only way to protect older patients <...> We must intensify the vaccination process more than ever,” he added.
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Breast massage: you can’t do without it
Until recently, it was impossible to imagine parents doubting the need for massage for children under one year old. The question was posed as follows: how many courses of professional massage up to a year do you recommend? And how many sessions is each course?
Recently the situation has changed a little. And now some mothers are cautiously asking: is preventive massage necessary at all? Or can you do without it?
How did breast massage become popular?
Here it must be said that the most rapid period of the heyday of children's massage came in the 90s. It was also done in the Soviet Union, but more according to indications and not in such a volume. More often, parents were advised to do it themselves.
What happened in the 90s? Devastation, doctors' salaries have fallen sharply. It was necessary to find something that would generate side income. And so, along with the invention of the concepts of dysbiosis and total giardiasis, which at one time helped thousands of pediatricians survive, a brilliant idea arose that for the normal development of an infant, preventive professional massage is essential.
How often will you need to be vaccinated against COVID-19?
Georgy Ignatiev, head of the general virology department at the Chumakov Center, believes that vaccination against coronavirus will most likely have to be done annually. “According to studies, those who have recovered from coronavirus infection demonstrate a decrease in the level of specific antibodies, therefore, perhaps, as in the case of influenza, people will have to be vaccinated annually, including those who previously had COVID-19 with a critical decrease in the level of antibodies,” - he explained.
Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said the same thing in an interview with TASS. According to her, the coronavirus is gradually turning into a seasonal virus, so it is highly likely that you will have to be vaccinated against the infection regularly. “Of course, when we take off our masks is connected with 60% of the vaccinated population, and with our citizens’ compliance with restrictive measures during this period, and with the fact that the coronavirus turns into a seasonal virus, which means, with a high degree of probability, that we We will be vaccinated regularly,” she said.
Golikova noted that neither the world nor Russia have yet accumulated sufficient experience in terms of understanding how long immune protection lasts. “Of course, now everyone is “relaxed” and believes that Covid is going away, the situation is better now, but while the virus is not going anywhere yet, we must take care of ourselves and our loved ones,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.
Why can’t massage treatments be combined with vaccinations?
A vaccine is a weakened gene for a particular disease that is introduced into the body and causes a response from the child’s immune system.
During this period, there may be a rise in temperature and loss of appetite. The muscles are greatly affected, and the child feels lethargic and weak. The body experiences a lot of stress during this period and you should not load it even more. In addition, a massage session can greatly relax the child’s muscles, which, together with the already present weakness, can lead to negative results.
After the vaccine is given and the immune system wanes, muscle development may take a slight step back, and if your child was already able to walk a little, this skill may be impaired after the vaccine.
In this case, you should wait a certain time and evaluate the effect of the vaccine on the child’s condition, and then select the appropriate set of massage procedures and exercises.
Even after a long break, massage can be resumed in the absence of the following contraindications:
- increased body temperature;
- weakness of the child;
- the presence of allergic reactions;
- serious complications after vaccination;
- colds or other infectious diseases that occur due to weakened immunity.
