Genetics may determine reaction to COVID-19 vaccine – Expert

Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Yootchou Tatfeng, says some people develop a fever after taking the COVID-19 vaccine due to their genetics on Friday.

According to Tatfeng, the reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine could be due to differences in people’s genetics, noting that it is the reason some people experience a feverish reaction after vaccination while others will not.

He explained further that some people do not react after taking the COVID-19 vaccine because their body has also been exposed to a corona-like virus which could have possibly made their body sensitized to the virus, unlike others.

“You may have some people who may unknowingly have been exposed to a corona-like virus so their body has been sensitized. Therefore, giving these people the COVID-19 vaccine may not elicit the same reactions you will see in other vaccinated persons.”

“The reaction may also not be as severe as someone who has never been exposed to any corona-like virus so it is normal that we react differently to this vaccine.”

According to a verified source, the Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology added that hypersensitivity to the COVID-19 vaccine could also be another reason for a reaction after vaccination.

He said “There’s what we call hypersensitivity reaction that has to do with the strength of the reaction that you exhibit. Some people are hypersensitive to this vaccine and everything boils down to our genetic difference.

“The simplest way I can paint this is like people who take paracetamol and react when others take and don’t react.”

Continuing, he stated that there may be molecules in that vaccine that creates a hyper reaction in people causing them to have a severe fever after receiving the vaccine.

“There are some things that create hypersensitivity in you. Some of those things are contained in that vaccine. That is why you feel the way you feel.

“But there are some people that may tolerate those chemicals that accompany it better because our level of tolerance to chemical substances varies,” he said.”

He advised those who reacted to the first dose of the virus not to be afraid of taking the second dose as the reaction they may elicit if at all, will likely be less severe stressing that the vaccine already taken would be of no effect if the dosage is not completed.

Tatfeng urged the Federal government to work towards enlightening and preparing the citizens for the possible side effects they may have when they take the vaccine.

The sensitisation, he noted, would make people be better prepared and not afraid to take the vaccine.

“Many people are not prepared for the reaction. There’s no assistance, there is no sensitisation, people are not really informed.

“If the government educates the people instead of trying to force them to take the vaccine, it would be good. The government should be encouraging and preparing people against this side effect by informing and educating them about what to expect and what to do when it happens.

“But the government hasn’t come up with a strategy to tackle this fear of the side effects. Addressing the concern, the expert said, would go a long way in allaying the fears of the citizens about the virus and encourage more vaccine uptakes.”

Tatfeng, however, reassured people who have suffered the side effects during the first dosage that they may likely not suffer any more side effects when the second dosage is taken, noting that if they suffer any, it would be less severe because the body would have adapted by then to the vaccine.

PHW