Unanswered questions fuelling vaccine hesitancy

THE EDITOR, Madam:

As we battle the COVID-19 virus, we have been warned to adhere to strict protocols. We must maintain physical distancing, sanitise hands and wear masks. In addition, we have been provided with vaccines in an attempt to achieve herd immunity. As with anything that’s new, there is going to be hesitancy as those of us who have access to information want to know more about how the vaccines actually work.

There’s a popular YouTube video featuring immunologist Dr Ramon Arscott. He cleverly compared the immune system to an army which recruits soldiers and police to arrest invaders. In this case, it is the COVID-19 virus. Dr Arscott likened the spike protein to a green hat that is produced when cells in the body receive instructions contained in the vaccine to protect the recipient from the virus.

The questions that arise and need to be addressed are these:

1. On receiving the vaccine, does it remain in the muscle in your shoulder, or does it diffuse into your bloodstream? I have heard that the vaccine contains millions of tiny particles.

2. Which cells, from which organs, are recruited to make the green hat?

3. After making the green hat and presenting it to the immune system (the police), does the immune system turn around and attack the cell that is wearing the green hat?

4. How long do the instructions to produce the green hat remain active?

5. In addition, are the vaccines likely to negatively impact people on medication for respiratory conditions?

6. What about people with allergies, can they take the vaccine?

The answers to these questions will help me and others to understand the issues more clearly and, hopefully, increase our acceptance of vaccination as we continue this fight against COVID-19.

CONCERNED CITIZEN