Myth busters

Vaccination

Myth – If I have already had COVID-19, I do not need a vaccine

FACT – People who have gotten sick with COVID-19 may still benefit from getting vaccinated. Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that re-infection with COVID-19 is possible, people may be advised to get the vaccine even if they have been infected before

Myth – Getting the vaccine means I can stop following precautions

FACT – CDC (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention) revised safety guidelines for those who are fully vaccinated against coronavirus. The CDC continues to recommend that masks and physical distancing are required when going to the doctor’s office, hospitals, etc

Myth – Side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine are dangerous

FACT – COVID-19 vaccines can have side effects, but a majority of them are very short term and harmless. Vaccine developers report that some people experience pain where they were injected; body aches; headaches or fever lasting for a day or tw

Myth – The COVID-19 vaccine was developed with or contains controversial substances

FACT – The first two vaccines to be authorized by the FDA contain mRNA and other normal vaccine ingredients such as fats (which protect the mRNA), salts, as well as a small amount of sugar

Myth – Getting vaccinated can alter the DNA of a person

FACT – Both mRNA and viral vector COVID-19 vaccines deliver instructions (genetic material) to our cells to start building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. However, the material never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA is kept. This means the genetic material in the vaccines cannot affect or interact with our DNA in any way

---

Treatment

Myth – Ayurveda, homeopathic and other herbal medicines can cure/prevent the coronavirus

FACT – The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) released an advisory suggesting that some unani medicines can help to prevent the coronavirus infection. However, there is no scientific backing that supports this claim, so far

Myth – Vitamin C helps cure coronavirus infection

FACT – Vitamin C was believed to have some healing benefits in the SARS outbreak. Besides, while Vitamin C supplements may help boost your immune system, there is yet no evidence that it might help people fight off the novel coronavirus

Myth – Eating garlic will prevent people from infection

FACT – Because of the antimicrobial properties of garlic, people think it also prevents from COVID-19 infection. However, the WHO has already cleared that there is no evidence whatsoever that it prevents infection from the virus

Myth – Onset of summers mean a decline of the virus

FACT – Although the previous coronaviruses—SARS and MERS—survived better in cold environments, there is no guarantee that the same will be true for COVID-19. From the evidence so far, the novel coronavirus can be transmitted in all areas, including areas with hot and humid weather

Myth – Taking a hot bath or drinking hot water can
prevent infection

FACT – Coronavirus symptoms for a majority of the infected people include cough, mild fevers, sore throat, headache, and body ache. While drinking warm water can make you feel better, there is no evidence that it will cure you. Having a bath in hot water will not work either, according to WHO, since the body temperature remains at an average of 36.5°C to 37°C, regardless of the temperature of your bath or shower

Myth – You do not have COVID if you can hold your breath for ten seconds without discomfort

FACT – You cannot conclude this by holding your breath for 10 seconds. Many young patients can hold their breath even longer, while elderly people cannot hold their breath for 10 seconds even without the infection. The only way to make sure you are not infected is to get a laboratory test done

Myth – You can protect yourself from COVID-19 by injecting, swallowing, bathing in or rubbing onto your body bleach, disinfectants or rubbing alcohols

FACT – Never attempt to self-treat or prevent COVID-19 by rubbing or bathing with bleach, disinfectants or rubbing alcohol anywhere on your body. Effective hand sanitizers do have alcohol, but they are formulated to be safe for use on hands

Myth – Rinsing the nose with saline protects against
the coronavirus

FACT – There is no evidence that a saline nasal rinse protects against any respiratory infections. Some research suggests that a rinse might ease the symptoms of acute upper respiratory tract infections, but scientists have not found that this technique reduces the risk of infection

Medicines

Paracetamol

Patients should use paracetamol for fever and body ache but not round-the-clock as fever is a monitoring parameter of a person’s heath. Doctors recommend patients do not consume more than 2-3 gm per day

Antivirals

Lopinavir-Ritonavir, Remdesivir and Favipiravir are the antivirals used for treating COVID-19 till now. Till date, the only antiviral drug that may have a role in the treatment of COVID-19 is Remdesivir. None of the other drugs has been proven to be useful

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are antibacterial. They have no role in the treatment of the manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection (a viral infection)

Ivermectin

It is an anti-parasitic drug that was found to neutralise SARS-CoV-2 in the lab. This leads to hope that it may have a role in humans. However, no trial has found such an effect. A recently published systematic review suggested that it may have a role, but most of the included studies were not of a high research standard. Its routine use should also be discouraged

Remdesivir

It does not save lives. It may shorten the duration of symptoms in individuals who have COVID-19 that is severe enough for them to warrant hospitalisation, and if they have signs of lung involvement

Steroids

The recovery trial proved that steroids, when used in patients with low oxygen levels, saved lives. However, their use in individuals with low oxygen levels is key. Early use of steroids, when oxygen levels are normal, can cause clinical worsening and be counterproductive

Other common myths

5G networks and its rays can cause COVID-19 infection

FACT – According to World Health Organisation (WHO), viruses cannot travel on radio waves/mobile networks. COVID-19 is spreading in many countries that do not have 5G mobile networks. COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks. People can also be infected by touching a contaminated surface and then their eyes, mouth or nose .

Pouring pure lemon juice into the nose of a COVID-19 positive patient can improve their oxygen saturation level

FACT – Press Information Bureau (PIB) tried to verify this information and described it as ‘completely fake’ and also said that lemon therapy cannot boost immunity or prevent anyone from COVID-19 infection. The bureau added that there is no scientific evidence that can prove that coronavirus is eliminated by putting lemon juice in the nose.

Smearing cow dung all over the body can boost immunity against the novel coronavirus

FACT – Dr Dileep Mavlankar, Director, Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar, said that doctors do not know if this therapy works as they have come across no such research which suggests that applying cow dung on the body can increase immunity against COVID-19 infection. Experts added that several fungi present in the cow dung may enter the body and infect people with mucormycosis as well.

A few drops of Aspidosperma Q 20 in a cup of water can immediately balance one’s oxygen levels

FACT – Homeopathic doctors have come forward saying that while this medicine improves oxygen uptake in cases of certain diseases, it does not do so in case of COVID-19 infection and that it is in no way a substitute for oxygen. Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, has also called out this claim to be a faux.

COVID-19 can spread through mosquito bites

FACT – To date, there has been no information nor evidence to suggest that the novel coronavirus can be transmitted by mosquitoes. Coronavirus is a respiratory virus that spreads primarily through droplets generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose.