The UK has become the first country to approve a dual vaccine, which will use an Omicron variant and the original Covid-19 virus in the autumn.
Described by Dr Joan Wren, chief executive of the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products regulator, as “a sharp tool in our arsenal as the virus continues to evolve”, the vaccine will be made available to health workers over 50 years old , caregivers over the age of 16, those at clinical risk from the age of five and over, and those living with people with weakened immune systems.
Right now, it hasn’t been announced when or if the dual rollout will be expanded, but if so, will everyone try again?
Although we know immunity will wane over time, after 33 million people have been vaccinated 3 times, millions of people may already be infected with the new coronavirus (19 million positive tests in total have been recorded), we Should these people be expected to be more apathetic, or even hesitant? Who experiences short-term side effects and thinks they can avoid them?
Side effects may include arm soreness, feeling tired, headache, pain, feeling or being sick, the NHS said. You may also experience high temperatures. Although these won’t affect everyone and shouldn’t last more than a week. There are also reports of changes in the menstrual cycle in women: heavy bleeding, increased cramping, and pattern disturbances.
In the UK, as of May this year, nearly 40,000 people had reported changes in their menstrual cycles to the Yellow Card Surveillance Scheme (Medical Regulation Scheme), to which healthcare professionals and the public can report suspected vaccine side effects. Now, several studies have been published to support these observations.
A U.S. investigation published in scientific progress Published in early August, the journal is the largest study to date involving 39,000 participants aged 18-80. The study found that 43% of people who had regular cycles saw more bleeding after the vaccine (most samples received the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines). This reflects the two authors’ own experiences.
Dr. Katy Clancy of the University of Illinois, a biological anthropologist specializing in reproductive health, shared in Twitter February 2021: “I’m a week and a half away from my 1st dose of Moderna, and my period is probably a day or so earlier and springing up like I’m back in my 20s”. Dr. Clancy’s graduate student Katherine Lee said she had “the worst cramps of my life”.
The survey also revealed that those who didn’t expect to bleed — for a variety of reasons, including after menopause — started bleeding, known as “breakthrough bleeding.”
“Among non-menopausal respondents, 71% were taking long-acting reversible contraceptives, 39% were taking sex-defining hormones, and 66% of postmenopausal men reported breakthrough bleeding,” the authors wrote. However, 44% of the nearly 40,000 participants reported no changes in their periods, suggesting that like other side effects, this doesn’t affect everyone.
In Norway, a study by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health also found heavy bleeding after vaccination — but only slightly more than 13 percent. This could be due to an immune response to the vaccine, especially inflammation, Ms Li explained. And any side effects experienced are considered temporary.
In addition to looking at changes in bleeding, other studies have looked at effects on menstrual timing. A smaller U.S. study of the relationship between periods and vaccines, using data from the period-tracking app Natural Cycles, found that periods were just a day late and remained roughly the same length.This study was published in Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2,400 vaccinated people were studied and their data were compared with 1,500 unvaccinated people.
Last month, Dr Victoria Male, lecturer in reproductive immunology at Imperial College London, published a smaller study.Unlike the US or Norway, the UK government does not provide any funding for research in this area, instead Male’s research is done on “shoelaces”, she protector.
In any case, she found a similar pattern. Menstruation may be disturbed, including delays, but it is mild and reversible. Her work also points to a possible link between regular menstrual periods following vaccination in people taking combined contraceptives.
Dr. Male points to a similar historical example: “Wan Quan, a Chinese physician, casually mentioned in his writings in 1549 that vaccination with smallpox (similar to an early procedure of vaccination) may accidentally bring about menstruation.
“A 1913 report states that when a New York hospital started vaccinating its nurses against typhoid fever, some of them noticed that their [periods]。”
Amy, 28, found the bleeding was worse and the cramps more painful after her Covid jab. At first, she chalked it up to the pressure of continued popularity. She went on to receive a second vaccine and a booster and noticed a similar shift. But would that change her approach to another vaccination, if offered?
“I’d rather not have Covid than go through a bad time,” she told A generation. “If more jabs are coming, it would be nice if we could be a little more alert to the potential impact rather than worry. [that] problem occurs. “
Chantell, 36, had a late period, and when it did come, it lasted longer than normal. She was more reluctant than Amy, although she admitted she would get another vaccine. Chantell has contracted Covid-19 twice, both mildly. “I was more annoyed by the inconvenience of it than worrying about how sick I was going to be,” she said. “Women always have to endure bad times, it’s just part of the lesson”.
Lily, 24, has had a much heavier-than-normal time post-vaccination, but said it was a “responsible thing” if she wanted to see her grandparents. The women said their periods subsequently returned to normal.
Dr. Clancy, Dr. Male and Ms. Lee all emphasized that surveys and research are as much an awareness-raising activity as important data collection. Just as many people are warned about short-term flu-like symptoms as a vaccine response, warning people that their periods may be irregular, heavier, or more painful can prevent unnecessary worry and panic. It can also help dispel any false and unfounded infertility rumors.
Women have become accustomed to underfunded, underresearched and misunderstood health issues. We just have to look at the discussion about the risk of blood clotting from the AstraZeneca vaccine, which means that alternative vaccines are available to those under 30, but many women point out that the pill has a much higher risk of blood clotting, but never received such strong protests. That’s because, many say, only women take the drug.
Among the many groups of WhatsApp women I asked the question, from women in their 20s to 40s, the response was quite loud – hard times wouldn’t stop them from getting another Covid vaccine, especially since there was no evidence that one woman pointed out, The interruption has any connection to infertility or long-term problems.
Dr Male is keen that these studies don’t turn women away from vaccinations: “Am I going to let these findings turn me back on vaccinations? Well, I was vaccinated when I analysed these results, so no! The findings are consistent with other studies, Changes in menstrual periods after vaccination were found to be small and reversed very quickly.
“For those of you who are particularly concerned about these findings, it’s also worth remembering that having Covid can affect your period, so the most important thing you can do is try to avoid Covid as much as possible.”