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Published on: Nov 13, 2020
2 minute read
By: Dr Rajan ( Medical Second Opinion Cell)

What Are Some Common Side Effects Of The COVID-19 Vaccine?

COVID Vaccine, the Pfizer update

On Monday Pfizer announced to the world the vaccine, once it has been developing with Germany's BioNTech, was found to be more than 90?fective. If this is substantiated, it may be possible for countries to receive the vaccine before the end of the year.

The Vaccine is an mRNA Vaccine, a novel method that introduces viral RNA into the body via a viral coat. The vaccine is incorporated into the person's cell, where the viral RNA is read and viral proteins are produced, including the coronavirus coat proteins. As the body reads and recognizes these proteins, it produces antibodies against these viral proteins and activates immune T cells against the virus.

The Pfizer results are based of a phase 3 clinical trial with 43, 538 participants with a diverse background. In this trial, the participants were split between those receiving a vaccine, and those who received a placebo with no effect. The vaccine is administered in two parts, with a 90?ficacy obtained 7 days after the second dose. This would mean a person is vaccinated just 28 days after the initial vaccination.

The FDA usually looks for a minimum 50?ficacy in vaccination when approving new vaccines. It may surprise you that the annual flu jab is also estimated to be 50?fective. The data from Pfizer was verified by an external, independent Data Monitoring Committee. It used data from 94 patients enrolled in the trial and subsequently developed COVID. It is from this groupset that 90% of efficacy is obtained. This is not the final data analysis, and further publications are expected in late November, with a potential FDA Emergency Use Authorisation approval if the data continues to show promise.

If approved, Pfizer has the ability to make 50 million shots before the end of the year, and 1.3 billion by the end of 2021. Many countries are clamoring for their fair share of these limited resources; the US has already negotiated 200m shots, UK 50m, and Germany (one of the major financers for the Pfizer vaccine) over 300m for European Countries.

We should emphasize that rapid vaccine development on this scale at this speed was unheard of prior to COVID. Usually, the animal studies for vaccines can take 1-2 years. In that time Pfizer and others have managed phase 1-3 clinical trials in humans, something that usually takes upwards of 10 years.

There are many unanswered questions that remain from this information.

How safe is the vaccine? Whilst safety information was not published, overall the vaccine appears to have minimal side effects. This is particularly difficult to state however since mRNA vaccines have never been used in people before.
Does the vaccine prevent transmission? In theory, yes. If you are immunized the replication of the virus should be limited significantly, so the number of viruses in each cough will be much lower. However, we do not have data to prove that there is no transmission, but that is also because we have very little data overall.
How long does the protection last? This is a very critical question. The 90?fectiveness rate was calculated just 7 days after the second shot, but it is likely this will change as data is collected over the long term. Some studies have suggested the antibody response fades within months following COVID infection. T Cell immunity on the other hand can stay for years, and it may be the effectiveness of creating a T cell immunity that dictates just how good this vaccine will be .

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AI-Based Disease Detection India: The Future of Smart, Preventive Healthcare

In today’s fast-evolving world, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing how diseases are detected, diagnosed, and treated.
No longer confined to research labs, AI is now an integral part of India’s healthcare infrastructure - enhancing precision, speed, and accessibility.

SecondMedic stands at the forefront of this movement, offering AI-based disease detection services that empower both doctors and patients to take control of their health before illness strikes.

The Shift from Reactive to Predictive Healthcare

Traditional healthcare often begins after symptoms appear.
But with AI, the focus shifts to predictive and preventive medicine - where conditions are identified early, and interventions happen before complications develop.

According to IMARC Group (2025), AI-driven diagnostics in India are expected to grow by over 23% annually, driven by increased digitization, telemedicine, and affordable machine learning tools.

SecondMedic leverages AI algorithms to scan through complex datasets - lab results, medical images, and patient history - revealing hidden patterns linked to potential diseases.

How AI-Based Disease Detection Works

AI models mimic the learning patterns of the human brain, using machine learning (ML) and deep neural networks to process medical data and predict disease probability.

Here’s how SecondMedic’s system functions:

Data Collection: Inputs from diagnostic tests, imaging, and wearable sensors.
AI Analysis: The algorithm compares data against millions of medical datasets.
Pattern Recognition: It identifies anomalies or early disease markers.
Doctor Verification: AI reports are reviewed by certified specialists.
Preventive Action Plan: Tailored health recommendations are shared instantly.

This integration reduces diagnostic errors and improves time-to-detection significantly.

Applications of AI in Disease Detection

1. Early Cancer Screening

AI can detect subtle changes in cells or imaging scans - identifying cancer at its earliest stage.

2. Cardiac Risk Prediction

AI-based ECG analysis predicts heart rhythm abnormalities before symptoms appear.

3. Neurological Disorders

Machine learning helps recognize early signs of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s through speech and movement data.

4. Diabetes and Metabolic Monitoring

AI models analyze blood sugar trends and predict potential diabetic complications.

5. Infectious Disease Detection

AI tools track pathogen spread, improving early detection of viral or bacterial outbreaks.

India’s Adoption of AI Healthcare

India is among the fastest-growing adopters of AI in healthcare.
NITI Aayog’s 2024 AI Health Report highlights initiatives that integrate AI diagnostics into public hospitals and telemedicine systems.

Major drivers include

Government’s Digital India Health Mission
AI collaborations between startups and research institutes
Improved affordability of cloud-based diagnostics

SecondMedic aligns perfectly with these efforts, making advanced disease detection available nationwide - from metros to tier-2 towns.

Benefits of AI-Based Disease Detection

Early Detection: Predict diseases before symptoms appear.
Increased Accuracy: Eliminate human oversight in pattern analysis.
Faster Diagnosis: Reduce waiting times for reports.
Personalized Insights: Adapt prevention plans to individual data.
Cost Efficiency: Save on expensive late-stage treatments.

According to FICCI-EY (2024), AI diagnostics can reduce misdiagnosis rates by up to 40%, leading to faster recovery and improved patient outcomes.

AI Meets Compassion: SecondMedic’s Approach

SecondMedic’s philosophy is simple - combine cutting-edge AI with compassionate care.
Every AI-generated result is reviewed by certified doctors to ensure human validation, maintaining the empathy and context technology alone cannot provide.

Patients receive personalized insights, along with recommendations on preventive measures, screenings, and lifestyle changes.

Data Security and Ethics

Healthcare data is highly sensitive, and SecondMedic ensures full HIPAA and ABDM compliance.
All records are encrypted and stored securely with patient-controlled access, ensuring trust and transparency in AI healthcare.

The Future: Predictive AI for Everyone

Imagine a world where your phone notifies you of potential blood pressure or glucose spikes - before they happen.
That’s the vision SecondMedic is building through its AI-based preventive platform, integrating continuous data from wearables, smart diagnostics, and online consultations.

The goal is not to replace doctors - but to empower them with real-time intelligence that saves lives.

Conclusion

AI-based disease detection isn’t just innovation - it’s a healthcare revolution.
With platforms like SecondMedic, India is moving toward an era where diseases are predicted, not suffered, and prevention begins with data.

By merging human empathy with artificial intelligence, SecondMedic is ensuring that every diagnosis leads to smarter, faster, and more compassionate healthcare.

Experience AI-powered health diagnostics today at www.secondmedic.com

References

NITI Aayog - AI for Healthcare in India Report 2024
IMARC Group - AI-Based Diagnostics Market India 2025-2028
FICCI-EY - Digital Transformation in Indian Healthcare 2024
ABDM - Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission - https://abdm.gov.in
Statista - Artificial Intelligence Adoption in Indian Healthcare 2025

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