'CORONA CITY'- The Vaccine Talk' PART 2

It is the fourth day of April, 2021. The fourth day of phase 3 of the vaccination drive in India. This time around, everyone above the age of 45 are being allowed to be vaccinated. Like I had promised, I got my parents registered and vaccinated yesterday. What was supposed to be a routine exercise became a contentious topic of discussion in my family when my mother experienced severe fever and body ache on the night after the vaccination. While she is slowly recovering now, I have been having all kinds of funny and interesting conversations for the last couple of days:

A mom and son conversation:

Mom: I am having high fever and body ache since I took the vaccine. The doctors had said this would happen, but I am scared.

Me: This is a natural reaction that the immune system of the body has to a foreign agent. The hypothalamus acts as a temperature regulator, working with other parts of the system such as skin, sweat glands in order to maintain the body temperature.

Mom: But is the vaccine a foreign agent? I thought it was supposed to protect me? Why is the body fighting against it?

Me: The vaccine you took has been developed in order to make it resemble the coronavirus on the outside surface. So when it enters our body, it is still recognized as a foreign entity. It is similar to how a body double or a stuntman is used in cinema. This is how the body is taught about the coronavirus and a protection is built against it.

Mom: But my pain is unbearable. Should I take a painkiller?

Me: You should only take a painkiller when the pain is unbearable. Painkillers tend to reduce the effectiveness of the vaccines by suppressing the immune system. (she did eventually take the painkiller)

Mom: How long will the fever and side-effects last?

Me: The fever should last not more than a couple of days, but other side-effects may last up to a week. The vaccine becomes completely active only after 14 days of injection.

An aunt and niece conversation:

Aunt: How is mom doing? I heard she had fever after taking the vaccine. I am scared to take my dose now !

Me: Aunty, mom is only having a regular fever expected after vaccination. That is how vaccines work.

Aunt: I don’t understand why the vaccine should cause a headache or fever? It should be to protect us right?

Me: The headache or fever is temporary, it is a way to activate the immune system so that the vaccine can become effective.

Aunt: But I already have headache and migraine issues. I do not want to take a risk.

Me: That is understandable. But the vaccine will give you long term protection. So even if there are any side-effects right now, it is still worth taking the temporary risk as you call it.

She eventually ended up delaying the dosage by another week, in spite of my attempts at convincing her to do otherwise ! Aunts have always been a tough nut to crack, haven't they?