While the effects of COVID have long been discussed, the effects of vaccines still fall behind in investigations. Now, more scientists are trying to study the symptomatic effects some of these vaccines had.
Long Vax Investigation
According to Mail Online, two esteemed Universities, Harvard and Yale, are investigating the effects of getting vaccinated. These conditions have gained the name "Long Vax," borrowing its term from "Long COVID," which referred to the symptoms related to Covid.
The problems being studied reportedly appear from a few hours to a few weeks after getting the vaccine. However, it was highlighted that the conditions could continue for months.
Mail Online says that experts still argue that a shot's benefits outweigh its risks and that the conditions of Long Vax were extremely rare and mild compared to those of the actual COVID. Researchers say that getting vaccinated also decreases the chances of Long COVID.
Although similar in symptoms, the researchers found their severity far from each other. However, Long Vax also had some unique symptoms of its own.
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Long Vax and Long COVID
Mail Online reports that the shared symptoms included headaches, tiredness, and blood pressure and heart rate spike. However, those with Long Vax also experienced blood circulation issues, tingling, and burning pain.
The doctors maintain that they don't know how many people were affected by Long Vax but that dozens of patients had the underlying symptoms. Dr. Harlan Krumholz, a Yale cardiologist, and leader of the study, admitted that the topic was controversial due to the vaccine still saving millions.
It was also highlighted that having a third shot would significantly drop Long COVID risks. The CDC maintains that 1 in 13 US adults would conduct symptoms of Long Covid, which would last three or more months after getting the virus.
Dr. Krumholz also expressed how he feared the study would find its way into the hands of conspiracy theorists. Despite that, he said he was convinced that something was happening with the mentioned side effects.
Evidence of Side Effects
In a report by Science, Dr. Anne Louise Oaklander, a Harvard Medical School neurologist and researcher, shared how their findings weren't just coincidence. Long COVID was believed to be the condition where the immune system could not reset.
Mail Online reports that this was because of it being overreactive, and researchers are suggesting that this could be the same case with Long Vax, wherein the immune system also overreacts to the COVID spike protein.
One idea that the researchers are exploring is that certain individuals mistakenly attack healthy cells when they produce a second round of antibodies. These antibodies could also bind to ACE2, which COVID uses to enter one's body.
The ACE2 receptor assists in blood pressure and heart rate regulation, and if its signal gets blocked by antibodies, the body could experience fluctuating blood pressure and rapid heart rates.
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