TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................2

2.0 HOW VACCINE WORKS?..........................................................................................................3

3.0 THE BENEFIT OF VACCINE......................................................................................................5

4.0 CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................6

REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................7

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1.0 INTRODUCTION
Globally, 271.9 million persons had the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus

type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection as of December 9, 2021. Over 31,000 people have died

and 2,707,402 cases have been documented in Malaysia due to the COVID-19

epidemic. Lockdowns and social withdrawal have been implemented globally as a result

of this extremely contagious sickness to stop the unchecked chain of transmission.

There isn't a recognized drug-based therapy available right now to treat COVID-19

infection. Therefore, vaccination is crucial for stopping the COVID-19 pandemic or at

least building "herd immunity". According to recent research, there are up to 8

vaccinations that have been licensed and are now being used worldwide. The

Malaysian Ministry of Health has licensed five vaccines: Pfzer-BioNTech BNT162b2,

CansinoBio Ad5-nCoV, Oxford-Astrazeneca AZD1222, Sputnik V Gam-COVID-Vac and

Sinovac CoronaVac.

Herd immunity may never be attained, however, as evidenced by the appearance of

novel COVID 19 variations like the DELTA and OMICRON strains. As a result, it would

be necessary to regulate public perceptions of the COVID 19 vaccines' effectiveness

and to communicate this to the public.

The success of stopping the spread of the coronavirus depends greatly on how willing

people are to receive and use the vaccines available. This has been complicated by

various factors, including differing beliefs about the virus, concerns about the

effectiveness of the vaccines, misinformation about them, and more. Despite significant

progress in developing COVID-19 vaccines and providing free immunizations in

Malaysia, there is still hesitancy among some individuals, which could hinder the goal of

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achieving herd immunity. Nevertheless, the government is now also offering

vaccinations for those aged 12 to 17, starting from September 8, 2021.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines vaccine hesitancy as a delay in

accepting or refusing vaccinations notwithstanding the presence of vaccination services.

It is a multifaceted phenomenon that differs depending on time, place, and vaccinations.

In Malaysia, a study carried out by June et al. in August 2020 (before to the release of

the COVID-19 vaccination) discovered a survey-based planned vaccine acceptance

percentage of 93.2%. The planned acceptance percentage was then decreased to 67%

(in December 2020) and 83.3% (in June 2021), respectively. In sum, 78.2% of

Malaysians had received all of their recommended vaccinations as of December 2021,

and 4,430,656 of them had finished their booster shots.

Thus, why should we receive the vaccine?

2.0 HOW VACCINE WORKS?

Vaccines have two distinct characteristics that set them apart from traditional

medications. Firstly, they are intended to prevent diseases rather than cure them. This

is achieved by conditioning the immune system to recognize and fight specific

pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, or other disease-causing organisms. As a result,

immunizations are an effective way to avoid illness rather than treat it after it has

already taken hold. Secondly, vaccines are classified as biological products, unlike most

pharmaceuticals that are chemical in nature.

This means they are often more difficult to create and more expensive, as well as less

stable and more susceptible to temperature fluctuations than chemicals. As a result,

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vaccines are frequently refrigerated to preserve a specific temperature range. The

temperature at which the vaccine must be stored depends on the type of vaccine.

However, intranasal vaccinations that may be maintained at room temperature are now

available. The vast majority of vaccines must be refrigerated or frozen.

Vaccines teach the immune system to recognize a specific virus or bacteria, allowing it

to defend against it if the individual becomes infected. This is achieved by exposing the

immune system to a small, harmless portion of the pathogen, similar to giving a

bloodhound an object to smell. Vaccines primarily enhance the production of antibodies,

which are proteins that fight off disease. They may also boost other immune system

components, such as T cells. While the methods of delivering vaccines can vary, the

fundamental principle remains the same.

Some vaccines include injecting a whole, safe (or complete, live, but decreased form) of

the germ entering the body, while others just contain a specific element (for example, a

single protein that is frequently seen on the outermost layer of the pathogen). The aim

of vaccination is to trigger a robust immune response by introducing particular antigens,

such as a protein found on the pathogen. In modern vaccines, rather than administering

the antigen directly, a segment of the genetic code is used. When this enters our

bodies, our cells act as the factories that generate the antigens that trigger the body's

immune response.

3.0 THE BENEFIT OF VACCINE

We recognize that some people might be reluctant to get immunized now that COVID-

19 vaccinations are accessible in Malaysia. Further COVID-19 vaccines are being

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produced as quickly as possible, but standard operating procedures and processes are

still in place to ensure the security of any immunization that has been approved or

licensed for use. The necessity of safety is paramount, and there are many advantages

to getting vaccinated.

It has been established that all available COVID-19 vaccines in Malaysia are highly

effective in preventing the disease. Rigorous clinical trials are being conducted for all

potential vaccines, and only those that significantly reduce the risk of contracting

COVID-19 will be approved. Medical experts suggest that receiving a COVID-19

vaccine may also lower the chances of severe illness if one does contract the virus,

based on previous vaccine studies and preliminary data from ongoing clinical trials.

Moreover, getting vaccinated can also protect those around us, especially those who

are more vulnerable to severe COVID-19 symptoms. The scientific community is still

investigating the vaccine's impact on the severity and transmissibility of COVID-19.

Secondly, there is no way to predict how COVID-19 may affect you; it may cause major,

life-threatening consequences. Additionally, if you become ill, you run the risk of

infecting your friends, family, and neighbors. Any vaccine, including COVID-19

vaccinations, must undergo clinical studies to demonstrate that it is both safe and

effective before it can be permitted or recommended for use. For usage under what is

known as an Emergency usage Authorization (EUA), the known and potential

advantages of a COVID-19 vaccination must outweigh the known and possible dangers

of the vaccine.

Third, having COVID-19 may provide some naturally occurring defense, often known as

immunity. In the 90 days following the initial infection, current research indicates that

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reinfection with the virus that causes COVID-19 is unusual. Experts are unsure of the

duration of this defense, because the danger of dying from COVID-19 outweighs any

advantages of innate immunity by a significant margin. Your immune system will

respond by producing antibodies after receiving the COVID-19 immunization, protecting

you without the need for illness. Experts are working to understand more about the

essential roles that both innate immunity and immunity brought on by a vaccine play in

COVID-19 disease, and CDC will keep the public updated as new information becomes

available.

Fourth, the risk of contracting the virus or passing it on to others can be decreased by

the use of masks and social isolation, but these precautions are insufficient. Your

immune system will strengthen as a result of vaccinations, making it ready to combat

any virus exposure. The greatest defense against COVID-19 is a vaccination regimen

along with adhering to the CDC's guidelines for personal and public protection. Utilizing

all of our resources is necessary to stop a pandemic.

4.0 CONCLUSION
We are protected from harmful diseases by vaccinations, and some of them can also

stop the spread of disease, sparing around 2-3 million lives each year. Many of us

receive these vaccines against diseases including measles, meningitis, and pneumonia

as part of our routine childhood immunization program. In areas with high vaccination

rates, this has led to a drop in the prevalence of numerous illnesses or even their

eventual eradication. Several infections have the potential to be eradicated, much as

smallpox was in 1980..

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The majority, however, pose a persistent risk since they can be discovered in animals or

in nature (for instance, in the soil), hence it is essential that immunization rates remain

high. Whenever vaccination rates drop, whether due to resistance or when services are

disrupted, these lethal diseases can soon reappear. The power of vaccination to save

lives is one of the key grounds why global health organizations like Gavi work diligently

to offer immunizations to low-resource areas where they are either expensive or

unavailable.

To protect those who cannot obtain vaccinations, such as those with extremely

weakened immune systems (such as those with cancer or HIV/AIDS) or severe

allergies, vaccinations are still required even in countries with low infectious disease

threats. Broad immunization is crucial for their protection since elderly people may be

more vulnerable to disease and immunizations may not always function as effectively in

evoking a strong immune response.

REFERENCES
World Health Organization. WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard. Retrieved from:

https://covid19.who.int/. 2021. https://covid19.who.int/. Accessed 20 April 2023.

Adil MT, Rahman R, Whitelaw D, Jain V, Al-Taan O, Rashid F, et al. (2021) SARS-CoV-

2 and the pandemic of COVID-19. Postgrad Med J. 2021;97(1144):110–6

Kupferschmidt K, Cohen J. (2020) Race to find COVID-19 treatments accelerates.

Science. 2020;367(6485):1412–3

Ministry of Health Malaysia. COVIDNOW in Malaysia. https://covidnow. moh.gov.my/.

Accessed 20 April 2023

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Syed Alwi SAR, Rafdah E, Zurraini A, Juslina O, Brohi IB, Lukas S. (2021). A survey on

COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and concern among Malaysians. BMC Public Health.

2021;21(1):1129.