Coronavirus: Who shouldn't get a vaccine right now? Risks explained

COVID vaccination has begun in full swing across the world, and the first phase of inoculation is expected to start in the next couple of weeks in India.

Right now, doses are being offered on an emergent, priority basis- to the ones having the highest risk right now.

However, considering it is an experimental vaccine, which has been developed in an unprecedented fashion, also means there is room for failure and side-effects. One uniform dose of a COVID vaccine or model may not work for every person in the world. With fueling rates of vaccine hesitancy, the discovery of recent side-effects, there are also some people who, on a precautionary note, have been suggested to 'wait for a while' before getting their hands on a COVID vaccine.

COVID vaccines, unlike traditional vaccines, have been rolled out for use in less than a year (usual vaccines take 5-15 years to get approved). Hence, there is growing scepticism over its safety. Secondly, vaccines aren't one-size-fits-all either. Even with a safe vaccine available, we don't know for sure if it would work for every person. Another reason behind this is that certain groups have been excluded from clinical testing, which means that there is no proof yet about any approved COVID vaccine working on them.

Remember, having a safe vaccine right now doesn't mean it is a 100% side-effect free.

While vaccines are usually said to carry some reactogenic side-effects, certain ones may be more severe, or serious for some vulnerable people- and expose them to complications. This is one reason some people have been asked to wait and the doses are only being offered to the ones who have the highest risk of COVID.

Kids under 16, pregnant women, senior citizens and those with serious health complications have been largely kept away in vaccine clinical testing-barring a couple of companies. This potentially means these groups may not get their hands on a COVID vaccine right now, since they may require different doses, or makes.

That being said, these are the people who should be doubly cautious and aware before getting a vaccine right now:

Of all the side-effects and complications which have come out in the open right now, the most serious ones have been for people who suffered from allergies. Vaccine shots have also sent people to the OR, suffer from fatigue, shocks, swelling and other inflammatory reactions. Hence, getting a COVID vaccine shot may spike fear for those with a pre-existing or known history of allergies.

Before getting a shot right now, it's important to be prepared for minor risks, and check back on your vaccination history as well.

Remember, allergy-related complications are rare, and less fatal but making an informed decision is always a smarter choice.

There is no evidence to suggest yet that a COVID vaccine won't be safe for expecting women. Yet, administrating a vaccine goes against the scientific ruling. This is because pregnant women are caring for another human being, which is in vital stages of growth, have lower immunity as well.

Developing a vaccine for pregnant women is also a tougher job since it requires more precision and alteration of doses, at times.

Immuno-compromised systems mean that there is more scope for certain drugs and biochemicals used in making the vaccine to react differently or interfere with the other medicines supporting your health. The risk outranks for people with severe co-morbidities, such as cancer or the ones who may be taking immunosuppressant drugs, or have a non-functional immune system.

Vaccinating kids is a good way to safeguard their health and in the current scenario, also pave a way for safe reopening of schools and educational institutions. Nonetheless, a COVID vaccine, which has not been subjected to kids' use may be unsuited for their immune system, which is still developing and untested doses may make them prone to adverse reactions.

Vaccine trials involving kids are only starting to pick up the pace, meaning that it can take anywhere from 2-3 months before we really know how safe and effective a COVID vaccine would be for kids. Hence, some parents may make a choice to delay vaccination. We clear out some other related COVID-19 vaccine doubts here.

Even with the risks, there is a possibility that some people may opt to get vaccinated right now, or mandated to get one. While safety fears do exist, doctors assert that we don't have enough data to support or negate the working of a COVID-19 vaccine right now, and hence, getting vaccinated remains to be more of a personal choice.

However, one must always remember that the safety risks or delays associated with vaccination shouldn't push people against inoculation. Vaccination is one of the fastest and effective ways to fight the pandemic, keep ourselves safe and resume life in a normal manner.