Here's what they said: Brave are those who don't get vaccinated. Divided opinions sometimes represent the basis of healthy polemics and sometimes cause harm. When it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine, I think that the negative comments are mostly unjustified, and even dangerous on an individual and global level... Spouses and doctors Nura and Emir Festić, who live and work in America, are among the first to receive the COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and possibly the first married couple of Bosnian origin to receive the newly approved vaccine against the Coronavirus. In an exclusive interview for Fena, they talk about the most current world issue—for and against the vaccine. Both graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in Sarajevo and are members of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian-American Academy of Sciences and Arts (BHAAAS) and both completed specializations and subspecializations at the Mayo Clinic, where Dr. Emir Festić works as a full professor at the Department of Pulmonology, and his wife Dr. Nura Festić works at the University of Florida in Jacksonville as an assistant professor at the Institute of Neurology and Neuroresearch.
At the beginning of the conversation, they present their views on the vaccine by answering the question of whether they had any dilemmas or reluctance to get vaccinated. The health facility where I work, University of Florida Jacksonville, is one of the first five health facilities in Florida to receive a shipment of Pfizer BioNTech vaccines this week. I received the vaccine with great enthusiasm the same day it became available to health workers in our institution, as did a large number of my colleagues who had access to it and the possibility," says Dr. Nura Festić. Her husband, Dr. Emir Festić, says that he couldn't wait to receive the vaccine, clarifying this attitude by the fact that it is in his interest, but it is also his responsibility to show the community by personal example what we all have to do. When asked what the atmosphere is like among colleagues at the clinic and university where they work and whether everyone will be vaccinated, they say that vaccination is voluntary. The vaccine is currently available to all healthcare workers in our institution, but receiving it is strictly voluntary. My observation over the past few days is that many highly educated as well as other well-informed health workers approach vaccination, while individual skepticism mainly comes from the ranks of those who use social networks for references, explains Dr. Nura Festić. As an example, she cites the dean and general director of the University of Florida, Jacksonville, and her work colleague who received the vaccine at the same time as our interlocutor. She is a specialist in neurology with a narrower subspecialty in the field of multiple sclerosis, and at the same time, she is currently breastfeeding her firstborn baby. She received the vaccine the first day after it became available without the slightest dose of skepticism, with a broad smile on her face, says Dr. Nura Festić. Dr. Emir Festić says that there was a lot of enthusiasm and positive energy at the Mayo Clinic on the day of receiving the vaccine. - It hasn't been like this for a long time. People felt finally certain relief," says the interlocutor. In the world, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Public opinions are divided for and against the vaccine. - Divided opinions sometimes represent the basis of healthy polemics and sometimes cause damage. When it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine, I think the negative comments are mostly unjustified, and even dangerous on an individual and global level. I don't think anyone questions the effectiveness of the vaccine. Controversy is mainly focused on the topic of potential side effects. The results of rigorous testing indicate an excellent safety profile for over 20,000 people who have received it in the past six months, roughly speaking. Individual allergic reactions and other mild side effects are no more common than with other vaccines that we have been receiving for decades. There is a difference between the currently approved Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and classic vaccines that use a killed or weakened virus. The truth is that it is a new medical technology that uses mRNA as an instruction code for a method of inducing immunity. However, as mysterious as this terminology sounds and as such presents a great challenge, the basic mechanism is quite logical and simple. Messenger RNA (mRNA), which is synthesized as a replica of part of the genetic material of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is introduced into our body with a vaccine and soon enters our cells through the bloodstream. It is important to note that mRNA cannot penetrate the nucleus of the cell where our genetic code (DNA) is located, and for this reason, it cannot modify our genetic structure, which is contrary to the unverified comments available on many social networks. The mRNA from the vaccine remains in the surrounding liquid of our cells and produces the so-called "spike protein," which is structurally identical to the surface protein of the virus that first comes into contact with the cell when the virus attacks the organism. Synthetic mRNA is degraded in our cells after it produces a "spike protein." That synthetic "spike protein" then leaves the cell and is stationed on the outer surface of the cell membrane, where it serves as a bait for individual immunity that protects us from future infection for some time (expected 1-2 years), explains Dr. Nura Festić. Complementing her explanation, Dr. Emir Festić says that the fear is understandable after everything that has happened in the last year, but it is precisely because of this that it is not justified. - COVID-19 killed millions of people, and the vaccine will protect people from death but probably won't kill anyone, says the interlocutor. In the continuation of the conversation, given that the Festić spouses work at prestigious clinics and universities and exchange opinions with colleagues, the 'question of all questions' arose—what is the general attitude of the profession in terms of normalizing life? - The current position on the issue of the COVID-19 pandemic is more or less the same among almost all geographic, academic, and socio-economic structures globally. And that, as is already quite evident, is a new norm that none of us accepts with enthusiasm. Fortunately, with the advent of the vaccine, the prospects for normalization become far more acceptable. However, this only applies to the scenario where herd immunity becomes a reality. And for that to happen, about 80 percent of the population must acquire immunity, either through a vaccine or through infection with the Coronavirus. Between these two options, I think the choice is very clear: the vaccine is the absolute favorite at all levels, emphasizes Dr. Nura Festić. - I think and hope that there will be no return to the old normal as we know it. I guess we got some messages from all this that we will continue to apply methods of individual and general protection as well as protection of our planet, believes Dr. Emir Festić. It was inevitable as a journalist to ask what the December days look like in anticipation of the holidays and life in Florida considering COVID. - More or less, holidays or not, everyday life is governed by a new norm that includes a series of restrictions that are very familiar to us: masks, frequent hand washing, and avoiding close contact with the environment, especially in closed spaces. In this context, life in Florida during the winter months is somewhat easier than in other geographical parallels because the climate allows us to stay in open spaces undisturbed. However, almost every aspect of the present is marked by this unfortunate virus... and will continue to be until herd immunity is achieved. I sincerely hope that this will be achieved by the more painless route between the two options: infection or vaccine. My vote is definitely for the vaccine—that is the message of Dr. Nura Festić. Her husband says that the biggest negative effect is for those whose family members are far away due to travel restrictions, especially across borders and oceans. - However, for those of us who survived the Sarajevo ghetto and other horrors of war, in comparison, these challenges are very small, says Dr. Emir Festić. Concluding the conversation, they emphasized how important it is to underline the importance of collective immunity in overcoming the current global situation caused by the pandemic, but also to overcome anti-vaccine propaganda.
-I think that the importance of the collective immunity mentioned above should be particularly emphasized if we want to hope for a return to normal life circumstances that include group gatherings, concerts, matches, trips, and the like, and not just individual immunity. In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that the hypothetical long-term risks of this vaccine that we see on social networks, in my opinion, are the result of fear of the unknown and not scientifically confirmed facts. Unfortunately, in the case of this global pandemic, unverified anti-vaccine propaganda can have disastrous consequences. My husband and I want to use our example to show the wider population that the vaccine is currently the most potent weapon we have in the fight against this global calamity, concludes Dr. Nura Festić. Confirming the position on the necessity of vaccination, Dr. Emir Festić repeated his wife's comment after they congratulated her on her courage when she received the vaccine and when she said, "Brave are those who do not get vaccinated." (https://www.oslobodjenje.ba/)
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