There is a race against time all over the world. Scientists are convinced that only mass vaccinations against SARS-CoV2 will break the chain of infections that has already led to the deaths of over one and a half million people. The pandemic has changed our daily lives in all dimensions. It has paralyzed the economy, education, social and cultural life.
Forced isolation is a new global experience, due to which many activities have moved to the Internet. There we work, study, seek entertainment and new contacts. There we can also observe the progress of vaccinations, which are a chance to return to life before the pandemic. Simultaneously with the unprecedented global vaccination campaign, a scientific offensive is underway on the Internet, the aim of which is to fight fake news and convince as many people as possible to take the vaccine.
WWW.SCIENCEAGAINSTPANDEMIC.PL
At this website, a group of Polish scientists who set themselves very specific goals are trying to convince people to get vaccinated:
– disseminating verified, substantive knowledge about vaccinations against COVID-19,
– educating about the use of innovative technologies in vaccines,
– providing verified information on vaccinations
– supporting all activities aimed at conscious vaccination of as many people as possible
Scientists have prepared a White Paper on COVID-19 vaccinations. In it, they explain many important issues, from the simplest to much more complex.
WHAT IS A VACCINE?
This is a biological preparation, the task of which is to imitate a microbial infection, and thus obtain immunity similar to that in the case of a real disease, but in a much safer way. The vaccine may contain a live, weakened or dead microorganism, or its fragments. An example of this is the mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. Preparations containing parts of the virus are considered very safe, and the technology for their production has been developed for about 20 years.
WHY IS THE mRNA VACCINE SAFE?
• it is not possible to modify the patient's DNA by the genetic material of the virus contained in the vaccine,
• a recipe for only one viral protein is provided (out of several dozen viral proteins and the genetic material of the virus necessary for its existence), so there is absolutely no possibility of infection,
• mRNA is a natural component of our cells,
• mRNA lasts in cells for a short time (hours), after which it is degraded into harmless, natural components
• a very small dose of the vaccine is enough to induce a therapeutic effect, e.g. in the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine it is 30 micrograms, which is over 100 thousand times less than sugar in a teaspoon
• therapeutic mRNA, its efficacy and safety have been studied in patients in the context of various diseases since 2001; in 2009 the first mRNA administration to a patient took place,
MORE AND MORE POLES WANT TO GET VACCINED
The information campaign and the efforts of scientists are yielding tangible results. The number of people interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine is growing daily. According to the latest United Surveys poll for Dziennik Gazeta Prawna and RMF FM, nearly 68% of Poles want to get the vaccine. This means that in less than two months, the number of people willing to get the vaccine has increased by almost 25%. This is very good news. The more people vaccinated against COVID-19, the sooner restrictions will be lifted and we can all return to normal. As it turns out, the only obstacle to achieving so-called herd immunity may be access to the vaccine. The announced 30 doses per week at each vaccination site is clearly not enough to quickly vaccinate everyone interested.
Sources: www.naukaprzeciwpandemii.pl www.gov.pl/web/szczepimysie