What is the recommended dose and schedule?
Do you need to take it even if you had Corona?
How many days after getting vaccine, would I develop protection?
How long will the vaccine provide immunity?
When is the Corona vaccine likely to be available in India?

These and many more questions answered.

1. What is the recommended dose and schedule?
   Two doses given 21 days or 28 days apart depending on vaccine used.
2. What if I take only one dose?
   One dose will give you only partial protection of maybe 60-80% and will not last long enough. For complete protection you must take two doses at recommended intervals.
3. What if I forget to take the second dose? Should I take the first again?
   Just take the second dose at the earliest. No need to repeat the first dose.
4. Are both doses same?
   In most of the vaccines it will be the same dose given twice. However, Sputnik- V vaccine has both doses as different vector viruses, so will be marked as dose 1 and 2. Oxford-AZ vaccine may also come out with first dose as half dose.
5. Do you need to take it even if you had Corona? After how many days of getting cured?
   Yes. But that will be last in the priority list. You can let others take who probably need more than you. You might need it earlier if you did not develop an antibody response.
6. Can it be administered to an individual who has received plasma as treatment for Covid?
   The donor plasma contains anti Covid-19 antibodies and may suppress the immune response to the vaccine. As it is, those who have recovered from Covid-19 may not need the vaccine in the early phases.
7. Can a pregnant lady or a lactating mother take the vaccine?
   No company has yet tested the vaccine in pregnancy. CDC has advised against giving the vaccine to pregnant and lactating mothers. UK authorities have advised women not to get pregnant for two months after the shot. Since the vaccines available till now are not live vaccines, it should not cause any problem if given inadvertently.
8. Can a diabetic patient take the vaccine?
   Yes, in fact diabetes has been established as a risk factor for severe disease and all diabetic patients must get vaccinated on priority.
9. If offered a choice of vaccines, which one should I take?
   All vaccines are offering equal efficacy although local reactions may be different. Take whatever available. Think positive that at least you are being offered a vaccine ahead of others. Indian manufactured vaccines will be more suitable for our population as they are cheaper and can be kept at 2-8 degree Celsius. The mRNA vaccines require a storing temp of -70 (Pfizer) and -20 (Moderna) which may be difficult to maintain in summer months.
10. How many days after getting vaccine, would I develop protection?
    It takes time for your body to build protection after any vaccination. COVID-19 vaccines that require 2 shots may not protect you until a week or two after your second shot.
11. How long will the vaccine provide immunity?
    It is a new virus, new technology vaccine, so we don’t know. After follow-ups of these vaccinated population and their antibodies for a couple of years, we would be wiser. The need for boosters and when will they be required, will be decided after these follow ups and mathematical modelling.
12. Children of what age can be vaccinated? Is the dose same as adults or lesser dose to be given?
    Trials done till now have been for adults above 18 only. Now trials for children above 12 have started. Doses will be decided only after trials are done on younger children and infants.
13. Can it be given to immunocompromised individuals?
    The mRNA vaccine and inactivated vaccines are safe. AZ and Sputnik-V adenovirus vector vaccines are also safe as they are nonreplicating viral vector vaccines. Live vaccines and replicating viral vector vaccines will have to be avoided.
14. What are the side effects expected?
    The side effects reported by the trial population are mostly mild Covid like symptoms like some fever and fatigue. Local injection site pain and induration is also reported. Reports of transverse myelitis and facial palsy have not been found to be related to the vaccine. Generally, all vaccines are safe. Although these vaccines have been made in record time, the testing methodology and procedures have not been compromised.
15. I am allergic to egg. Can I take the vaccine?
    Egg cell lines are not used for production of these vaccines. They can be taken safely even if you are allergic to egg.
16. I heard that it has pig or monkey products? I am a pure Vegetarian.
    The new vaccines manufactured these days are devoid of any such products.
17. In the past vaccines have been linked to Autism. What about these?
    In 1985 there was a paper linking MMR with autism. Millions of children followed up after that have conclusively proven that there is no relationship between vaccines and autism. All vaccines are extremely safe with minimal temporary side effects.
18. There are messages going around that mRNA from vaccine gets incorporated into the human genome and alter our genetic structure. Is that true?
    mRNA vaccine carries a message to the cell to produce spike protein which induces antibody production. It does what it is directed to do. Till date there have been no adverse events reported.
19. What is the interaction of alcohol and Covid vaccine?
    Excessive alcohol can reduce the immune responses to vaccines. Since Russians are known for heavy drinking, their government has advised to avoid drinking two weeks prior to first dose and 6 weeks after the second dose. The Sputnik vaccine is given as two doses 21 days apart. Occasional glass of wine or beer will not interfere with the immune response.
20. Soon the virus will mutate and we will need another vaccine. Should we not wait?
    Till now the virus has not shown tendency to mutate like the Flu virus. Moreover, the vaccines being developed have taken this into consideration and should still work.
21. What if I do not want to take the vaccine? Will it be made mandatory?
    In majority of countries, it will not be mandatory. You have to choose between the new viral disease with no specific treatment and a new vaccine. Choice is yours. As initially there will be a huge demand supply gap, by not taking a vaccine you can help others.
22. Can I roam around without a mask once I am vaccinated?
    No, not as of now. One may do so only when the majority of the population has either got the disease or received the vaccine. This means the population has developed herd immunity.
23. Are newer and better Covid vaccines expected in near future?
    As of December 2020, more than 250 vaccines are under trial in different phases. A lot of research is underway to develop newer delivery methods also. Nasal spray vaccine is probably the most promising. A multi dose nasal spray delivery device can be very convenient and economical. It will produce local IgA antibodies and block the virus at entry itself. It will reduce nasal colonisation and thus prevent transmission of disease also. Unfortunately, since it will be a live vaccine, it will need maximum and most stringent trials and thus will take longest time to hit the market. Covid-19 is still a new disease and we are still learning. The facts mentioned above are as of 14 December 2020. Please re-check the facts before taking a Covid vaccine shot.

For specific questions about India and much much more, go to the source below

https://wholisticwellnessspace.wordpress.com/2020/12/30/frequently-asked-questions-on-covid-vaccines/

Yes you read it right. Everyone is waiting for a vaccine, but a truely time tested vaccine takes at least two to three years. Meanwhile there are many personal experiences being shared by people who have used holistic methods and recovered fully. These are brushed aside by people and agencies who believe in or have a vested interest in promoting only western medicines and drugs. Readers are also invited to watch demo videos prepared by Denanath Mangeshkar Hospital & Research Center, Pune, who protected their Covid Warriors from infection using these techniques

According to the report^​*​ published in msn.com:
As it stands, we’re several months into the pandemic, and a vaccine or cure could still be a long way off. This daunting fact has led researchers to explore other strategies for combating coronavirus, and mitigating its symptoms. Among those strategies is nasal irrigation, the practice of clearing the nasal passages, using a spray bottle or neti pot to introduce a therapeutic solution.One team of researchers recently studied the effects of nasal irrigation on COVID-19 and determined that this simple, at-home practice could very well help lessen a person’s viral load. “Nasal irrigations should be encouraged for patients and health care workers especially,” the study concludes.

Indian readers are quite aware of the procedure. The image above summarises it for readers who aren’t. Please read on. Also follow all the links if you want to know more.

While hardly a silver bullet solution for the disease, the study argues that nasal irrigation can help to “reduce viral severity and further transmission” of coronavirus early on after a patient becomes infected. The researchers explain that this is because, “similar to other viral upper respiratory infections, [coronavirus] infection occurs primarily in the nasal and nasopharyngeal mucosa with high viral loads early in disease.” This presents an opportunity to “wash COVID-19 away,” the study suggests.

An Important advice To make Neti practice safe use filtered or distilled lukewarm salted water as suggested by Yoga ancient texts of India. The temperature of the water should be around the temperature of the blood and after doing neti one should practice kapalbhati (i.e blowing air gently from the nose to expel residual water). And to be on a safer side if you are practicing neti for the first time, do it under the guidance of a practitioner.

The researchers noted that the general “benefit of topical nasal saline has been well established,” explaining that the nasal lining serves an important role in the immune system, acting as the primary defense against inhaled viruses and bacteria. Nasal rinses help remove this particulate matter, while also increasing hydration and reducing inflammation—all of which can lessen the effects of a respiratory infection.

So what exactly do you need in order to try it out? The study suggested choosing an over-the-counter hypertonic saline spray, which can be found in most pharmacies. Betadine and other iodine-derivative sprays also appear to support “substantial coronavirus reduction,” the researchers noted.

While there is no cure for coronavirus, this at-home treatment may help to limit the severity of your illness, and reduce your time spent sick—and that’s certainly a step in the right direction. And for more on this simple practice, check out 

Nasal Irrigation Is the Key to Reducing COVID-19 Progression, Doctor Says.

Exactly two months ago, on 17th March 2020 In a perceptive article, author Maiti Bibhansu, wrote in Times of India about the subtle science of Microvita. First proposed by P.R Sarcar, 34 years ago, it has a great relevance to the mysterious pandemic, Coronavirus, baffling scientists all over the world.

Bibhansu writes: Coronovirus has become a severe threat to this planet earth. It is spreading like wildfire. WHO has declared a health emergency. Still, there is no proper treatment to fight it.

In the year 1986, the great spiritual master and philosopher Shri P R Sarkar aka Shri Shri Anandamurti wrote a book, “Microvita in a nutshell”. This book has a link to some viruses like coronavirus. Sarkar is of the opinion that the smallest particle of matter or an element is not an atom, electron or proton but a microvitum or microvita in the plural. Microvita exists in both physical and psychic realms. Physically they are smaller than a sub-atomic particle and in the psychic realm, they are subtler than ectoplasm. These microvita belong to three categories—positive or friendly microvita, negative or harmful microvita and neutral microvita.

According to the Dutch microvita researcher Henk de Weijer “Microvita are tiny creative catalysing agents. They build atoms of matter, biology and mind while cooperating with the characteristics of subatomic particles and pure energy”.

Starting from the basic concept expressed by Sarkar in his discourses, the scholar Richard Gautier highlighted the involvement of microvita in the organization of energy for the creation and maintenance of structures. He wrote: “…without microvita, no physical structure can exist. This is because, without microvita, energy or prana cannot be organized to become vital energy and create or maintain the existence of a structure.”

In connection with Quantum Field Theory, another researcher from the Netherlands, Frank van den Bovenkamp, suggests that the scalar field (a special type of quantum field) not only gives mass to elementary particles but on top of that produces subtle vibrations which appear to possess certain characteristics of microvita. This inner, simultaneous state of the all-pervading scalar field is reminiscent of P.R. Sarkar’s philosophical concept of “Trigunatmika”, also referred to as the Causal Matrix, and has no reality in the absolute sense but is superior to its effects and is inferred by them.

Reacting to the article, Richard Gauthier a researcher and Physics instructor, from Santa Rosa Junior College, California, USA, wrote: “This is a very nice article about microvita and their potential for helping society in these difficult times. I have been researching microvita for more than 30 years. some of my articles on microvita and science can be found at: richardgauthier(dot)academia(dot)edu(slash) research.

“My latest research”, he adds, “is about Microvita and the Origin of the Universe. You can find a PowerPoint for this article “superluminal primordial information quanta (sprinqs) created and compose a multiverse of equally fine-tuned universes evolving life and highly-developed minds” at the above location in the presentations section. I encourage interested people to find out more about microvita and to read P.R. Sarkar’s original article about microvita at microvita(dot)org. Read from source at the link below:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/understanding-yoga/coronavirus-and-p-r-sarkars-intuitional-science-of-microvita-10638/

It is Mahavir Jayanti today, one of the most important days in the Jain religious calendar. As the Jain community celebrates the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Mahavir by exchanging greetings on email or whatsApp messages, it seems Nature has taken upon itself to celebrate this auspicious day on a grand scale, Universal in nature. The Universe knows no geographical boundaries, hence the divine celebrations are playing out on the entire planet.

The Corona virus has mandated we rethink how we live, consume, and treat others. I will briefly mention only two principles that Lord Mahavir gave to the world that seem like a balm on the Corona-ed human soul.

The current state of the world is very appropriately reflected by the opening lines of Charles Dickens famous novel A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, …” It tells about a time of chaos, conflicts, and despair, as well as happiness. It, in fact, tells us about the time of extreme opposites without any in-betweens.

Something similar is unfolding on planet earth today.

As I sit pondering over the birth celebrations of Lord Mahavir since when I was a child, the images of community events where school-children performed plays and songs depicting the life of the Teerthankara, the liberated One, flash before my eyes. It was a time of community gathering, celebrations, much fun and socializing, followed by lots of sumptuous food eaten together. I recall with much nostalgia the annual speech I was asked to deliver, in English (at age 7 onwards, because I studied in a convent school!), on his life and principles. I knew by rote the main tenets of Jainism and Lord Mahavir’s three-fold path of Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct. For many years it continued thus, and I could have rattled off the entire Four-fold or Eight-fold Path (they are different for ascetics and householders) without pausing for a breath. Yet there was no deeper thought, no time for reflection on the teachings of this noble, liberated soul. Posters and banners proclaiming the lofty tenets of the world’s most non-violent religion were put up all over town, but how much was followed by people is anyone’s guess. As indeed it often happens in most religions.

However, today, as I sit locked up in my house – Coronavirus indeed has locked up indoors practically all humanity, I am having some Eureka moments! Yes, the wisdom of all my Mahavir-Jayanti speeches, scripted by people more learned than a 7-year-old, is gradually dawning on me. I feel the lessons humans have failed to learn by volition are being taught by Nature, à la science experiments demonstrated in a lab. Humans are perforce made to sit back while Nature takes over and teaches. The coping stone of Mahavir’s teaching has been “Live and Let Live,” kindness to all beings and cruelty towards none. He even went to tell humanity that plants too have a life, and therefore deserving mindfulness from humans.

The fact that the deadly Corona virus most probably originated from wet animal markets in China has forced mankind to rethink cruelty towards animals. In India most slaughter houses are shut, people are shunning animal flesh, eating healthy and vowing to continue with their kindness towards other living creatures. Humans are not the only inheritors of this beautiful planet. We have encroached in most downright manner, the habitat of birds and animals, cocking a snook at the principle of “Live and Let Live”. Now when the world, locked up behind closed doors, sees animals hitherto unseen on the roads roam freely, does it realize that in our race “to live” we forgot to “let others live”. We need to let the animals and birds, the air and water, sky and earth breathe and own their space in the universe. Our rapacious ways and the choices we make will not only kill them, but spell our own doom. In fact, we can live only if we let others live. The choice we had in “Live and Let Live” is long gone.

Another important tenet that Mahavir gave to humanity, and my most favorite one, is the beautiful precept of Aparigraha, or, in simplistic terms non-attachment to material things. Aparigraha is one of the virtues in Jainism, and one that was uncannily prescient when Mahavir expounded it more than 2,500 years ago. It is also one of the five vows that both householders and ascetics must observe. Non-Violence, Non-Stealing, and Truthfulness we all believe are necessary virtues, but when it comes to Aparigraha we are neither aware nor believe the same is very important virtue in higher pursuit of life.

Aparigraha is the virtue of non-possessiveness, non-grasping or non-greediness. Aparigraha is the opposite of parigrah, and refers to keeping the desire for possessions to what is necessary or important, depending on one’s life-stage and context.

In my current ruminative mood, I was wondering that the end of winter is usually the time for big-ticket sales in all shopping malls as well as online commerce sites. At this time of the year, one would have seen teeming crowds stocking up on “discounted goods,” unmindful of their need. But forced lock-downs the world over have seen people managing with what they have and no one is any the worse for it. When man‘s avarice could not be checked by any wise person’s advice, Nature had to step in and teach mankind a lesson it is not likely to forget any time soon. Instead of hoarding unwanted stuff, most people are decluttering their homes and spring-cleaning wardrobes. The world is seeing the benefit of minimalist life. This minimalist lifestyle, or Aparigraha was preached by Lord Mahavir at a time when the world probably was still unspoilt by abundance of material possessions. While excess consumption leads to bigger houses, faster cars, fancier technology, and cluttered homes, it never brings happiness. This, the world is being forced to see in the times of Corona virus. “A tomb now suffices him for whom the whole world was not sufficient,” said Alexander, the great Greek conqueror about himself just before he died.

We don’t need a full house, we need a full life. This is going to be a life-changing resolution. Lord Mahavir’s other teachings of Forgiveness, Compassion and Sacrifice are as pertinent in the new world order when there seems to be a tectonic shift in human consciousness. Of that later!