“It is not yet time to incorporate the coronavirus vaccine into the mandatory schedule”
The Minister of Health, Carla Vizzotti, affirmed that “It is not yet time to incorporate the coronavirus vaccine into the mandatory schedule”while stressing that the possibility of applying a fourth booster dose is being “permanently” evaluated.
“It is not yet time to incorporate the Covid vaccine into the mandatory calendar,” said the minister, who specified that this possibility is under permanent evaluation by the national government.
On the other hand, and regarding the possibility of adding a new reinforcement to the vaccination plan, Vizzotti added: “We permanently evaluate the need to advance with immunity boosters with a fourth dose”.
“We wanted to give reinforcement at 6 months and with the increase in cases we lowered it to 4 months”he remarked, after pointing out that it is very possible that “the combination of vaccines will generate a large benefit in relation to immunity.”
“We have the rest to give all the 1st, 2nd and 3rd doses that are missing and stock to give a 2nd reinforcement if necessary,” he told El Destape Radio.
After affirming that the country is going through “the second consecutive week in which cases drop,” Vizzotti pointed out that “the increase in deaths is seen in the second or third week after the peak of cases.”
The minister drew a comparison with what were the first and second waves of the pandemic, and in this sense assured that there were “weeks of 4,000 deaths and now we are reaching 400, with three times more cases and that is thanks to the vaccines” .
“In the last 8 weeks there were 1 million people over the age of 18 who started the vaccination schedule and 2 million who completed it, we still have a way to go”he added.
In turn, the head of the health portfolio remarked that “with those older than 3 years, more than 90% started the scheme and 75% completed it” and focused that “the percentage of people who decide not to get vaccinated is less than 5 %”.
He also clarified that “Argentina never stopped recommending the chinstrap and its importance was always valued, especially in closed places and massive events”. In this sense, he anticipated that they will reinforce care in the face of the pandemic with a communication campaign to anticipate the arrival of lower temperatures and school attendance.
At the same time, he ruled out the possibility of evaluating “restrictions now, the Omicron is highly transmissible and would not work” but expressed the importance of “strengthening vaccination, strengthening care and monitoring hospitalizations and deaths.”
“With the beginning of the classes it works in the same way, the important thing is to advance with the vaccination”, he concluded.
