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#Vaccinate: Weeding our way through mistrust and misinformation
Author: Daniel Bugan
Published: 16/09/2021

A new lineage of the COVID-19 virus recently detected across South Africa – the so-called C.1.2 – is being closely monitored, and is not yet considered a serious threat.

This emerged during an online question-and-answer session hosted by Stellenbosch University (SU) on topics relating to the COVID-19 vaccine, such as the importance of getting vaccinated, myths around the vaccine, and access to vaccination. Prof Wolfgang Preiser, head of the Division of Medical Virology, and Dr Jantjie Taljaard, head of the Division of Infectious Diseases, both from SU's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), addressed the audience.

Responding to concerns about the C.1.2 variant, Preiser said: “At this stage, the C.1.2 is a lineage of the COVID-19 virus that we found in a small portion of infected people across the country. Apparently, it has not increased in prevalence over the past eight weeks. The majority of infections are still caused by the Delta variant. There is no evidence to date that C.1.2 would be worse than the Delta variant, so based on what is known, it is currently not regarded as a variant of interest (VOI) or of concern (VOC).

“We are watching very closely to see if the C.1.2 variant might take off. If, during this heightened observation period, it proves to be potentially problematic – if, for instance, it increases in prevalence, or infects a lot of people who have been vaccinated – it could be declared a variant of concern. But at this stage, there is nothing to be alarmed about. Take comfort in knowing it is under observation."

The following pertinent questions were also addressed:

If I had COVID-19, is it possible to have a heightened response to the vaccine, and perhaps more side-effects, since I already have antibodies?

Preiser: Yes, on both counts. Reports indicate that vaccine-associated side-effects (feeling unwell, fever, headaches for a day or two) are probably more likely in people who have some degree of previous immunity from a COVID-19 infection. That is the downside. As per the South African authorities' recommendations, you should wait a month after your recovery from COVID-19 before you get the vaccine. On the positive side, you will have a very good immune response if you get vaccinated after having had the infection as well.​

How does the COVID-19 vaccine affect fertility? How would we know the long-term effects, since we don't have the results from long-term studies?

Taljaard: The issue around fertility originated from a theoretical concern raised at the start of COVID-19 research in early 2020. The possibility of the presence of an antigen on the surface of the placenta that may mimic the spike protein on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was investigated in depth, but found to have no biological truth. Ongoing surveillance post-vaccination has not shown decreased fertility. This underlines the data from vaccine trials, which revealed similar pregnancy rates in vaccinated and unvaccinated people. We know that pregnant women are at an increased risk of severe COVID-19, hospitalisation and death compared to non-pregnant women, and they can also infect their newborn child. That is why it is now universally recommended that pregnant women get vaccinated, to protect both themselves and their offspring.

Some sources say that the COVID-19 vaccine can cause certain types of cancer. Is this true?

Preiser: I haven't heard that before, and don't know where it comes from. It can't be proven because nobody has had any COVID-19 vaccine before April 2020 or thereabout, and cancer develops over years. I am not aware of anything plausible that would suggest that the vaccines have any cancer implications. Remember, the concepts behind the vaccines have been tested and, in some cases, used for decades in numerous experimental animals as well as humans, and contain nothing that is known or suspected to cause cancer. Our verdict? Nonsense.

It seems that many of those ending up in hospital with COVID-19 are older, so why should young adults get vaccinated?

Taljaard: It is not untrue that COVID-19 is more severe in the elderly. To prevent unnecessary deaths, there was a staggered approach to the vaccination process, starting with the elderly, after which we moved into the younger age brackets. However, we are now at the point where we're trying to achieve herd immunity, which means that we have to vaccinate more than 80% of the total population. Personally, I think younger people getting vaccinated is extremely important for our education system – for learners and students to get back in the classroom and onto the sports field. If they do not get vaccinated and outbreaks continue, government will have no choice but to close down institutions. And we have seen how damaging that is for young people's education and social development, among other things. Also, the third wave was characterised by increased numbers of young people admitted to Tygerberg hospital. Children can also become infected and transmit the disease. In fact, in many of our households, infections now come via our children. The aim is to vaccinate ourselves out of this pandemic, and everyone counts!

Podcast: Click here to listen to a podcast by Prof Wolfgang Preiser on COVID-19 and vaccines.