With more than 30 million immunized with complete schemes and most of them waiting for the third dose against covid-19, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection explained what are the new recommendations to receive the booster vaccine.
(See: The WHO makes it clear: the endemic is not the solution for covid-19).
Leonardo Arregocés, director of medicines for the Ministry of Health, clarified, first of all, that three types of vaccines are used in Colombia. Some are those of the viral vector, which consist of a harmless version of another virus and of these are the Janssen and the AstraZeneca.
On the other hand, there are those of Messenger RNA (MRNA), whose strategy is to give instructions to cells to defend themselves from the virus. These are the modern and the Pfizer.
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And the third type is that of the inactivated virus, the type to which it belongs Sinovac.
Having this clear, the expert recommends combining the vaccines. This method is known as heterologous vaccination.
“What it means is that the platform on which the biological that the person received in its initial scheme is developed must be changed.”, he added.
In this way, those who received Pfizer, Moderna or Sinovac should be vaccinated with AstraZeneca and those who received viral vector vaccines, such as Janssen and Aztrazeneca, can complete their third dose with any of the Messenger RNA.
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“We are not using Sinovac because it has a less immunogenic profile in adultsArregoces said.
The third dose in Colombia is for everyone over 18 years of age.
EFE
IS THERE A DANGEROUS COMBINATION?
Arregocés clarifies that there is no combination that cannot be made, but that it is recommended to vary the biological “because it generates better protection, according to the latest studies”.
He added that “It should also be remembered that the booster depends on three factors: the Ministry of Health’s indication of heterologous vaccination, the person’s desire, and availability. Not all are available in the same quantity”.
(See: The ABC of the requirement of anticovid vaccination for workers).
MODERN AND PFIZER SCARCE
Gerson Bermont, director of Promotion and Prevention, in an interview with ‘Blu Radio’, clarified that The Moderna vaccine should not be used as a first dose, or as a booster dose, due to its scarcity.
“Do not spend the Moderna vaccine on first doses, because we will not be able to respond to them with the second doses at the time“, he pointed.
Moderna is one of the vaccines used in Colombia against covid.
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Thus, this vaccine should only be used to complete vaccination schedules in second doses.
Now, regarding Pfizer, Arregocés pointed out that “the availability of this vaccine is low, so we are leaving it for pregnant women”.
So what should be the reinforcement schemes?
THE REINFORCEMENT SCHEMES
– If the first and second doses were Sinovac, boosting can be done with AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna, or Sinovac.
– If the single dose was Janssen, the person may be vaccinated with AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna, or Janssen.
– If the vaccination schedule was carried out with Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca, the third dose may be AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Moderna.
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And given recent recommendations, all third doses for all three regimens should be AstraZeneca.
FEEDING IMMUNIZATION
With the increase in Ómicron cases, German Bermont, director of Promotion and Prevention of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, announced new goals regarding vaccination coverage.
He asserted that, as of January 31 of this year, 80% of the Colombian population should have at least one dose, while 63% must already have the complete schedule of two vaccines.
Regarding the reinforcement, Bermont pointed out that, by this date, 5.8 million Colombians must have their third dose.
BRIEFCASE
