The government's COVID-19 vaccination program uses various brands of vaccines. One of them is the AstraZeneca vaccine. However, there are rumors that this vaccine has dangerous side effects. What are the facts about the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine for COVID-19?
The AstraZeneca vaccine is a collaboration between the University of Oxford and a pharmaceutical company in the UK, namely AztraZeneca. This vaccine contains a genetically modified virus (viral vector) of the harmless common cold virus.
AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine works by stimulating the body to form antibodies that can fight infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. After going through several phases of clinical trials, it was concluded that the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19 was 63–75%.
AstraZeneca Vaccine Safety Facts
The AstraZeneca vaccine is effective enough to provide protection against COVID-19. Even so, not a few people reject this vaccine because of the news that the vaccine can cause dangerous side effects, such as blood clots and a decrease in the number of platelets or blood platelets.
In fact, the AstraZeneca vaccine has passed clinical trials and is declared safe. The Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) has issued an emergency use permit for the AstraZeneca vaccine and the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has also issued a fatwa that this vaccine is halal for use.
On the other hand, European Medicines Agency (EMA) said that the indication of blood clots with a decrease in the number of platelets after injection of the AstraZeneca vaccine is a very rare case, which is only in 1 in 100,000 people who are vaccinated.
This condition is also more at risk for people who do have DVT or blood clots. It is also important to remember that blood clots can occur due to many things, such as smoking habits, blood disorders, or side effects of drugs, such as birth control pills, not necessarily because of vaccinations.
The EMA and WHO also stated that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine to prevent COVID-19 still outweigh the risks of side effects. So, although they still need to be aware of the occurrence of side effects or AEFIs, the public is advised not to refuse the COVID-19 vaccine, including the AstraZeneca vaccine.
If you have a blood clotting disorder, you can actually still use the AstraZeneca vaccine. There is no study that states that people with blood clotting disorders will experience side effects of blood clots after being injected with the AstraZeneca vaccine.
However, if in doubt, consult your doctor first or you can also use other vaccines, such as the Sinovac vaccine or Pfizer vaccine, as an alternative.
Risk of Side Effects of AstraZeneca Vaccine
As with other COVID-19 vaccines and vaccines for any disease, the AstraZeneca vaccine can cause side effects. However, generally these side effects are only mild to moderate and will go away on their own within a few days.
The following are common side effects after injection of AstraZeneca vaccine:
- Pain, swelling, or bruising at the injection site
- Shivering
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Nauseous
- Joint and muscle pain
In rare cases, people who are injected with AstraZeneca vaccine experience side effects other than those mentioned above, including vomiting, diarrhea, and blood clots.
If a person experiences certain symptoms after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, such as chest pain, palpitations, difficulty moving legs or arms, or fainting, immediately take them to the doctor for examination and treatment.
If you are still unsure about getting vaccinated because of your health condition, you should consult a doctor for the right advice and information. Be wise in choosing information so as not to be consumed by COVID-19 vaccine issues that have the potential to interfere with the success of the vaccination program.
Similar to other COVID-19 vaccines, such as Sinovac, Sinopharm, Moderna, Pfizer, and Novavax, the Astrazeneca vaccine used in Indonesia is also relatively new and its effectiveness and safety are still being researched.
If you have questions about COVID-19 or other health problems, you can chat directly with the doctor using the ALODOKTER application. Through this application, you can also make an appointment with a doctor at the hospital if you need an in-person examination.
