2 weeks Ago By Dr Rai Ragbir
In light of recent statements by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh regarding Covid-19 vaccines, I offer the following analysis for the public’s benefit. The Covid-19 pandemic drastically altered lives worldwide, spurring the rapid development of vaccines designed to reduce the spread of the virus and save lives. From the outset, these vaccines, particularly the mRNA-based ones, were shown to be highly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalisations, and deaths.
Clinical trials for the vaccines demonstrated their high efficacy in preventing severe disease. Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, using mRNA technology, were shown to be over 94% effective in preventing symptomatic infections when first rolled out. This was a monumental achievement in combating a virus that caused widespread morbidity and mortality globally.
As real-world data emerged, the vaccines proved even more valuable. Countries that vaccinated their populations early on saw dramatic drops in hospitalisations and deaths. Data from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) consistently showed that fully vaccinated individuals had a far lower risk of developing severe Covid-19 compared to unvaccinated individuals.
The vaccines also reduced the severity of infections in vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions. Despite the vaccines’ success in reducing severe Covid-19 cases, confusion persisted regarding their impact on transmission. Initially, there was hope that vaccines might significantly curb the virus’s spread.
Early data suggested that vaccinated individuals were less likely to transmit the virus. However, this protection weakened over time, especially with the emergence of more transmissible variants like Delta and Omicron. The vaccines were not primarily designed to block transmission but to prevent severe outcomes such as hospitalisations and deaths.
Over time, it became clear that although vaccinated individuals could still become infected, they were far less likely to suffer severe consequences or die. Even in cases of breakthrough infections, vaccinated individuals generally experienced milder symptoms, underscoring the vaccines’ critical role in managing the pandemic. The emergence of variants highlighted the need for booster shots to strengthen immune responses and reduce the risk of breakthrough infections.
This emphasised the dynamic nature of the virus and the importance of ongoing vaccination efforts and booster campaigns to maintain high levels of immunity within the population. While vaccines were shown to be safe and effective, legal battles over vaccine mandates dominated the US landscape. Several states filed lawsuits challenging federal and employer-imposed vaccine mandates, claiming they infringed on personal freedoms and state authority.
These lawsuits largely focused on the legality of mandates rather than the safety or efficacy of vaccines. For example, states like Texas and Florida contested the Biden administration’s vaccine mandates for federal employees and large businesses. These lawsuits reflected broader political and ideological divides over the role of government in public health.
Courts often ruled in favour of the states, blocking certain mandates. However, these rulings addressed the legality of mandates, not the vaccines’ effectiveness. Some lawsuits also addressed religious or medical exemptions.
In cases where individuals claimed mandates violated their religious beliefs, courts had to balance public health concerns with individual rights. The outcomes varied, with some courts granting exemptions and others upholding the mandates. From the outset, regulatory bodies like the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) made vaccine safety a top priority.
The Covid-19 vaccines underwent rigorous clinical trials involving tens of thousands of participants before being granted Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA). After their release, the vaccines continued to be closely monitored for adverse effects. The majority of people who received the vaccine experienced only mild, temporary side effects, such as arm pain, fatigue, or low-grade fever.
Severe reactions, like myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) or blood clots, were extremely rare and generally outweighed by the benefits of vaccination. For instance, myocarditis occurred more often in young males after receiving mRNA vaccines, but at a far lower rate than heart complications resulting from Covid-19. Despite my deep concern regarding Mrs Persad-Bissessar’s unfounded comments about people receiving a “fake vaccine”, I agree that an open, honest and transparent enquiry into the Government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic is necessary.
We need to scrutinise policies such as lockdowns, vaccine passports and mask mandates to understand what worked and what didn’t. Additionally, the strain the pandemic placed on our health services must be properly examined and discussed. A public enquiry will allow people to voice their concerns, dispel conspiracy theories and, most importantly, restore trust in our health institutions.
—Author Dr Rai Ragbir is MP for Cumuto/Manzanilla..
