The Covid-19 vaccine is still effective when the virus mutates, says the specialist.

Last updated on January 17th, 2021 at 02:54 am

KUALA LUMPUR: If the virus mutates, the Covid-19 vaccine will still be safe, an expert said last night. A consultant pediatrician at KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital, Dr. Musa Mohd Nordin, said this is because the human body itself is “intelligent” because it not only releases antibodies to destroy a virus but also creates antibodies with immune memory.

Musa said that even though the antibody level of an individual decrease, the human body has memory cells that, when attacked by a virus, can create new antibodies.

Despite the decline (in antibodies), only about 30 cases of reinfection have occurred so far. “Imagine, out of the more than 80 million cases of Covid-19, only about 30 are affected by Covid-19 for the second time,” he said here during the “Wacana Sinar Harian” program.

Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, rector of the International Islamic University, and Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin were the other panellists.

On vaccine protection, Musa said that a two-month duration was considered adequate by experts to detect more than 90 percent of the major side effects.

So far, he said, 90% of the reported side effects have been mild, such as discomfort, redness, and swelling at the injection site, which typically heals within two days.

It is approximately 50 percent for systemic effects such as dizziness, exhaustion, fatigue and fever, especially for those below 55, who received a second dose of the injection.

This is a minor side effect after immunization, with no alerts of a higher risk. I hope that Malaysians remain open-minded and that social media, which is not based on truth, claims and reality, would not affect them. We must verify the truth,’ he said.

Dzulkifli addressed the issue of discrimination in health-related matters in terms of availability, accessibility and affordability, especially with regard to the Covid-19 vaccine.

For instance, he said, although the vaccine is available, rural communities do not have access to it.