By Rt. Rev. Dr. Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa
The Bishops of the Church of Uganda were recently blessed with the opportunity to engage in an interactive Zoom meeting with two scientists from Oxford University involved in the development of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is the vaccine currently being administered in Uganda.
The purpose of the meeting was to allow the Church of Uganda’s bishops to interact directly with scientists involved in vaccine development to answer any and all questions Ugandans have had about the safety of the vaccine. Both scientists work at The Jenner Institute of Oxford University. Dr. Marion Watson, is the Institute’s Director of Operations and a member of Christians in Science. Dr. Mustapha Bittaye is an immunologist and originally from The Gambia.
Over the course of two hours, myths were demystified and conspiracies de-bunked. These were the main questions asked and answered during the meeting.
Q: What are the ingredients in the vaccine?
A: The core ingredient in the vaccine is a harmless and weakened Adenovirus taken from chimpanzees. The Adenovirus is a family of viruses that, among other things, causes the common cold. Since the Adenovirus used in the vaccine in neutralized, it cannot reproduce in our cells or cause disease. Not even a common cold. Other ingredients are water, salt, sugars, and common chemicals used to stabilize the vaccine and keep it active through refrigeration. The vaccine does not contain common allergens like eggs, gluten, lactose, or nuts. There is also no microchip in the vaccine and there is no way it can link to 5G phone signals. There is nothing in the vaccine that will change your DNA. Bill Gates has not been involved in funding or developing the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.
Q: How does the vaccine actually work?
A: The Covid-19 virus is called a coronavirus because when viewed through a high-resolution microscope it has spikes on its exterior that look like a crown. The word corona is related to the word crown. The vaccine contains cells that mimic the spikes on the Covid-19 virus but do not transmit the virus. When the body’s immune system comes in contact with the spike cells in the vaccine, the immune system is stimulated to produce antibodies and natural killer cells that will target and fight off the Covid-19 virus.
Q: Can a vaccine developed so quickly really be safe?
A: The technology used in the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is based on using the weakened Adenovirus to carry instructions that will stimulate the body’s immune system to successfully fight off the Covid-19 virus. This technology had been under development for twenty years, so the scientists were ready and able to easily adapt it by using the genetic sequence of the spike protein as soon as it became available in January 2020.
Q: Is the AstraZeneca vaccine effective?
A: Yes. In vaccine trials, its results have performed very well, and it is a vaccine of choice by the WHO. It is almost 100% effective at preventing severe and fatal Covid-19 disease; reduces transmission of the virus in asymptomatic people; and is 76-80% effective in preventing mild Covid-19 disease.
Q: If the AstraZeneca vaccine is so effective, then why are some people still dying from Covid-19 after getting the vaccine?
A: Viruses mutate continually. Most of the mutations are not a problem and the body’s heightened immune system is able to fight off these mutations. There are, however, some mutations that are labelled “Variants of Concern.” These are mutations like the South African variant, the Brazilian variant, and the UK variant. They are different enough that all vaccine manufacturers are currently working on updates to the vaccines so they will be more effective against the Variants of Concern.
Q: How does the AstraZeneca vaccine compare to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines?
A: Unlike the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines which require extremely low, sub-zero temperatures for storage and transportation, the AstraZeneca vaccine only requires refrigeration. The AstraZeneca vaccine uses the weakened adenovirus to get into the body’s cells, while the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use a messenger RNA to do it. They all work by getting your own cells to make the COVID-19 spike protein so the immune system is ready to fight off the virus. AstraZeneca has also pledged to sell the vaccine at cost and make no profit from it during the pandemic in order to make it as accessible and available around the world as possible. Even after the pandemic, the vaccine will be available to low income countries at no profit to the company.
Q: Does the AstraZeneca vaccine cause blood clots?
A: Very, very, very rarely, and less frequently than the general population is likely to develop a blood clot for any reason. It is important to know that there are different kinds of blood clots. After giving the AstraZeneca vaccine to millions of people around the world, about 4 people out of one million people may develop a very rare type of blood clot called CVST – a clot in a large vein in the brain. These happen within a few weeks of vaccination and the patients were all found to have low numbers of platelets – blood cells that normally help stop bleeding in the body. The reasons are not yet clear, but the number of people who develop this type of blood clot after taking the AstraZeneca vaccine is much less than the number of people who would typically develop that blood clot in the general population without getting a vaccine. There is, likewise, a far greater risk of developing a blood clot from Covid-19 than from the vaccine. The CVST type of blood clot that is rarely seen after the AstraZeneca vaccine is different from DVT (deep vein thrombosis) blood clots and other blood clots common with older people. Again, the benefit of the vaccine far outweighs the risk; getting COVID-19 puts you at a much greater risk of getting a blood clot than the vaccine does.
Q: Are there other side effects from the AstraZeneca vaccine?
A: The ingredients in the actual vaccine are eliminated from the body after a few days. Some people, however, may experience mild side effects like a headache, a small fever, and tenderness at the injection site for a few days after receiving the jab. These are a result of the body’s immune system gearing up and training itself to fight against the Covid-19 virus.
Q: Is the vaccine only for older people?
A: No. Anyone over the age of 18 is cleared to get the vaccine, including pregnant women and women in their child-bearing years. Some of the newer variants are particularly attacking younger people, who seemed to not be affected in the first wave. Those who are over 60 and those with high blood pressure or diabetes are especially encouraged to get the vaccine. Mothers who have developed protective antibodies against the Covid-19 virus can actually pass on the protection to their babies through the placenta and breast milk, which can provide protection to those babies against future infection.
The Church of Uganda was very blessed to have this opportunity to interact with vaccine scientists so we can share this blessing with others.
In a nutshell, the experts emphasized the importance of the vaccine by comparing Covid-19 disease to an exam that awaits us all. If you want to pass an exam you prepare for it adequately. Taking the AstraZeneca vaccine is like preparing for exams. When you catch the virus the vaccine will help to trigger a chain reaction that will help you to pass the Covid-19 exam by fighting off the disease and not getting severely sick or dying.
Rt. Rev. Dr. Fred Sheldon Mwesigwa
Bishop, Ankole Diocese and House of Bishops Organizer for Vaccine Safety Zoom Meeting
smwesigwafred@gmail.com
