Coronavirus vaccine: Are there people who cannot get vaccinated?

There's a lot of curiosity surrounding the development of a suitable COVID-19 vaccine. With casualties breaching the 55 million mark, it is paramount that we get our hands on a novel coronavirus vaccine as soon as possible. More than 45 candidates, of which, 7 are already in critical stages of roll-out are being looked at as the most promising candidates.

Having a vaccine ready, which may be first administered to high-risk groups first will grant us immunity and stop the spread of the viral outbreak across the world. It may also give us hope that someday, we will be able to resume life in a normal manner. But, there's a chance that these contenders may not suit everyone, despite best efforts. We have to bear in mind that there are also people who cannot be, or not advised to go through the vaccination process.

While vaccination is a crucial preventable act which safeguards communities from the fear of infectious diseases, there are some people who are not suited for vaccination. People who are advised to wait out, or avoid vaccination may have underlying factors which may deter vaccines to work on them. Age, health conditions may also play an important role. Reports of growing vaccine hesitancy, which may again, add to our concerns.

While different groups are working on protocols to make vaccines workable for all ages and vulnerable groups, we do know that any vaccine which is rolled out in the coming months may not work for everyone. Current predictions suggest that there may be hundreds of thousands who may not benefit from a COVID-19 vaccine roll out as of right now and will probably be made to wait longer.

Some groups may also have to wait a little longer to have a vaccine ready for their needs. Again, different vaccines can also contain different components, which may affect people differently. Adenovirus vaccines, for one, which has been made use of by at least 4 different COVID-19 vaccine makers can have altered, sometimes severe side-effects for those with compromised immunity, lung function or heart disease.

We tell you some of the other risk factors which may dissuade vaccine development and inoculation in the coming months:

No vaccine is side-effect free. There will always be chances of people developing side-effects. The risk weighs more for those who have experienced troubles with past vaccine doses. People who have specific allergies, or have suffered from threatening complications may be advised to wait out before they get a jab of an experimental COVID-19 jab. Since this is the first time a vaccine for COVID-19 is being developed, the odds of side-effects will be higher than ever.

A vaccine works to protect the ones who have frail immunity or belong to a high-risk category. However, people who have seriously compromised immunity, suffering from chronic complications which could have impacted their immune functioning may not deliver a strong response. There are also people with existing health conditions or problems which make them have a non-functional immune system, such as the ones who might be taking immuno-suppressant drugs. Vaccines for them may not suit them well either. Hence, caution is strongly advised.

Infants and toddlers can act as super-spreaders of COVID-19 and in rare cases, may even suffer from lingering life-threatening complications due to COVID-19. Making a vaccine for them is also crucial to reopening schools and recreation centres safely. However, certain vaccine doses may be unsuited for growing children's immune systems. Children's immune system may also react differently to a vaccine, as compared to others, which is also a reason why not many vaccine trials cover children. Right now, it may be possible that children may have to wait a little longer when a COVID-19 does get approved for use.

Pregnant women, much like children are not really made part of a COVID-19 vaccine trial and never has there been a vaccine specifically designed for expecting women during such viral outbreaks.

Experts believe that the experimental doses used in COVID-19 vaccines may be unsuitable for a growing baby's health, and may make a pregnant woman showcase adverse side-effects. Hence, they will also have to wait a while or follow discretion when it comes to getting vaccinated in the future months. However, the delay will have consequential impacts on women who are pregnant in times of COVID. Hence, corrective steps need to be taken at the earliest to protect the vulnerable group.

As many have suggested, it might take upwards of a year right now for vaccination to be done in full swing. Loopholes like these, of people who may not be able to secure vaccines because of their health, may only make matters worse. Not only does this mean that we would need to continue practice sanitation and distancing measures, but healthier people will also need to get vaccinated to protect others at risk- many of whom belong to a high-risk category and have a high COVID severity and mortality risk.

There are also certain medical groups who are working on developing novel vaccine jabs which could work for people with frail, or compromised immunity. For example, development of an injection, an alternative to a vaccine made using synthetic antibodies can offer hope for those who do not have a working immune system. Trials for the same are being held in around 1000 people in Manchester, UK.