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COVID-19 Vaccines and Elderly

“Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.” – Jonas Salk

A few months back, when the world was struggling with a growling pandemic, the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines most certainly felt like a dream that is difficult to come true. But after different stages of severe clinical evaluation, many effective vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 are here now, and have made us more hopeful in our fight against COVID-19. Although these vaccines are meticulously developed by the top clinical experts and scientists throughout the globe, and the early data has proven to be quite satisfactory, questions related to the safety and effectiveness of  these vaccines are commonly raised by many.

We are all very concerned about the health and wellbeing of our family members, especially those who are at a higher risk of catching the virus, i.e., little children and elderly. We also cannot ignore the fact that there is still uncertainty regarding the production of antibodies in older people as compared to younger adults. People who have to care for mom or dad fear the occurrence of life-threatening illnesses or severe after-effects that might come uninvited with the COVID-19 vaccines. What if the vaccine is not very well-tolerated and effective? What if our beloved old parents are not strong enough to generate a strong immune response, and succumb to the worst after-effects?

Questions like these have become a big reason of rising tension for caregivers in Houston. But looking at the number of volunteers who have already got the vaccine and are in the process of getting it every day without any shocking repercussions, the safety and efficiency of vaccines seems promising. However, we   also agree with the fact that the immune response to such vaccines is optimum for young people, and becomes weaker with age. So, people are still worried if this new COVID-19 vaccine is going to work for older adults as well as it does for youngsters.

As people providing care for mom or dad still seem confused to take their dependent parents for vaccine shots, let’s understand the most important facts that you need to consider, and the authentic advice of several research institutes and medical associations.

Facts related to the Vaccine against COVID-19

• No serious side effects or adverse events were noticed in the lives of the volunteers. However, some mild-to-moderate symptoms like pain at the injected area, fatigue, headache, chills, and muscle aches were noted in people after completing the second dose, or in those who were injected with a dose higher than 100mg.
• After the immunization, the bodies of the volunteers were able to rapidly produce protective antibodies against to fight against the spike protein. And after the second dose, their immune response became stronger and successfully produced antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.
• For larger clinical studies, higher dose of 100mg was preferred over lower dose, considering that it caused a stronger immune response.
• The immune response in older adults was almost as strong as in younger individuals.

What do you need to do as a Caregiver for Senior Citizens?

• If you go by the guidance of CDC (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention), not just older adults, but everybody should go ahead and get the COVID-19 vaccine.
• Even after senior citizens have gone through both the dosage sessions of the COVID-19 vaccine, they still need to follow all the precautions, so that there is zilch chance of catching the virus and passing it on. This implies that they will still have to maintain social distancing, practice hand hygiene and wear face mask.
• In case you care for mom or dad who are already ill, and are at an increased risk of death or other critical illnesses, remember to consult with their doctors after regular intervals. This would help you instantly track any side effects that they might be experiencing after getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
• Availing services of professional caregivers in Houston from reputed organizations like Ambassadors Caregivers is always a smart idea if you are having a hard time managing it all on your own. These dedicated caregivers in Houston have sound knowledge of all the measures that are required for maintaining the health and wellbeing of senior citizens.

Wrapping Up

Considering huge success of the COVID-19 vaccines amongst younger individuals, its clinical trials on older adults are being carried out with high confidence. If you are in a situation where you need to care for mom, dad, or another high-risk group, keep your fingers crossed, and don’t drop down your guard yet.