World Health Organization (who) said today that the review of the information and scientific data related to the duration of immunity offered by vaccines against covid-19 indicates that it extends up to six months after receiving the second vaccine (or the single dose in the case of the Jenssen vaccine).
“We have reviewed the data out there and most of it shows that the immunity lasts up to six months, “said the director of the Department of Immunization of the who, Kate O’Brien, at a press conference. The group that advises WHO on immunization issues today issued the conclusions of the analysis of data that it has carried out in the last two days, but indicated that it is too early to comment on the new variant omicron and how it responds to vaccines.
The advisory group formally recommended that countries exercise flexibility in planning the next phases of their vaccination to contain the pandemic, which only last week caused 4.1 million new confirmed infections and 52 thousand deaths worldwide.
Recommend combining doses of vaccines
That flexibility consists of being able to immunize people with the first dose of a vaccine and the second dose of another, which will allow countries that do not have vaccine stocks to face the problem of a supply unpredictable. On the other hand, many countries have up to four vaccines in their plans for immunization against him Covid and being able to combine them will prevent some of that inventory from expiring and being lost, O’Brien said.
However, experts consider that whenever possible the doses of the same product are given. The vaccines that have been authorized by the who and the majority of regulators that are considered an international reference offer “robust protection for at least six months against severe forms of the disease, although a certain decrease (in efficacy) against severe conditions has been observed, especially in older adults and people with diseases underlying “, detailed the president of the group, Alejandro Cravioto.
Who will the booster doses go for?
For that reason, the instance of scientists indicated that it maintains its recommendation that only booster doses are offered to these vulnerable groups, as well as to health workers, particularly if they received vaccines with inactivated viruses, which corresponds to the technology used in the vaccines of the pharmaceutical Sinovac and Sinopharm.
These vaccines, which are on the emergency use list of the who, have been widely administered in numerous developing countries, including Latin Americans. In that case, health personnel “should receive the reinforcement as soon as possible,” Cravioto said. Reserve the third doses at higher risk groups would allow poor countries, where rates of vaccination they are very low, they can receive the vaccines they need, defends the organization.
British Health Minister considers the new restrictions “proportionate”
The British Minister of Health, Sajid Javid, described this Thursday as “proportionate” the new restrictions to contain the Covid-19 on England and assured that these measures are subject to constant “review.”
Due to the rapid spread of the omicron variant, apparently more contagious than the delta, the Executive announced yesterday Plan B, which reinforces the anticovid measures, with the request to telework, wear masks in closed public places, as well as the presentation of a vaccination passport to get into nightclubs or massive shows starting next week.
The head of Health told the “BBC” today that they are measures “provided if one observes them, be it teleworking, the measures on masks, the covid pass of the NHS (Health)”. The minister admitted that restrictions they could be tougher, but that a “balanced decision” had to be made in order to take into account several factors, but that “the key here is to slow down the spread of the new variant and these measures will help.” According to the latest official figures, the United Kingdom yesterday registered 51,342 new infections and another 161 deaths.
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