Med First ENT Centre

Many persons across the world have received their double dose of the vaccine. In a way, they are the ones we are calling 'Fully Vaccinated'. Pfizer has applied for permission to give a third dose of the vaccine to those who are fully vaccinated, in order to boost the immune response. The issue is contentious medically and morally.  Medically the evidence is not yet strong enough to warrant a routine third/ booster dose of the vaccine. Morally there is a dilemma - since a large percentage of the world population is yet to receive it's first dose, vaccines should be first given to them. The WHO has said that it is not currently recommending the use of a third dose. The common vaccines currently in use all over the world are - Pfizer mRNA  - Moderna mRNA - Astra Zeneca Oxford/ Covishield - Sputnik - Russia - Sinovac- China - J&J - Janssen - Covaxin - India Vulnerable Persons There is a proposal to give a third dose to vulnerable persons. Israel has started doing so already...

  The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19 infection in humans is thought to be primarily a respiratory virus. However, it is seen to affect many other organs besides the lungs. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has a spike protein that attaches itself to ACE-2 receptors in the human body. ACE-2 receptors are plentiful in the human body. They are primarily found in the lungs, heart, blood vessels, kidneys, liver, and the gastrointestinal tract. So it is very likely that apart from the lungs any other organ that has the ACE-2 receptors can be infected and damaged by the virus. Though the disease causes mild symptoms in most of the affected individuals, some go on to have long-term side effects from the illness - the 'long haulers.' From patients who have recovered from Covid we are learning of disease sequelae that go much beyond the lungs.  The BMJ (British Medical Journal, April 2021) published a research paper with the following objective-  "To evaluate the excess risk and relati...