Colombian government confirmed to apply third dose against covid-19

Deputy Health Minister Luis Alexánder Moscoso confirmed that last Thursday Authorization was issued in Colombia to apply a third dose against covid-19 to immunocompromised people with significant pathologies in terms of resistance to the disease. This, after the approval of the same in the United States intended for those who have eight months of having completed the Pfizer and Moderna program.

“We are moving forward, we are moving forward rapidly. Yesterday, permission was given to apply the third dose to immunocompromised people. Important pathologies. A third dose which will be applied thirty days after the complete regimen. This is the first package that is planned ”, the official reported in an interview with CityTV.

In his speech, Moscoso assured that, despite the departure of the defined population, the application to older age groups is under study. “Other important population groups have been studied, we are awaiting confirmations and studies which we hope will be published this week or next week. At the latest, in two weeks have completed their studies. There is a good prospect of vaccination in people over the age of 70, as scientific evidence shows today. We move forward“, added the official.

Regarding the next populations to be considered for the third dose, the minister assured that decisions will be made on the basis of scientific evidence. In addition, he reminded Colombians that there are limited doses and therefore the context cannot be compared to countries like the United States.

“We don’t have to compare ourselves to other countries that have a high availability of vaccines and have expiration dates. These are different behaviors and correspond to another reality. Ours matches the scientific evidence. Today, studies show that populations at risk can benefit from this third dose ”, said the official, who is awaiting the conclusion of the analysis.

After the interview granted by Moscoso, President Iván Duque ruled on the approval of the additional dose.

“With the Ministry of Health, and following the recommendations of the Vaccine Advisory Board, we decided that there would be a strengthening of the vaccine against # COVID19 for populations with immunosuppression or defenses deficits. Our priority is life and we are continuing with the National Vaccination Plan ”, the president said via his Twitter account.

For his part, Fernando Ruiz, head of the Health portfolio, reiterated the determination in a mid-morning speech on Friday and detailed the target population.

“These conditions are heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, intestine, liver, bone marrow transplant after the first two years. Regarding diseases, leukemia, myeloma, lymphoma and myelodysplastic syndrome with chemotherapy ”, detailed, in addition to mentioning autoimmune diseases.

This is in line with the speech of Leonardo Arregocés, director of drugs and technology at the Ministry of Health, who at the beginning of August had limited evidence to determine which population group was eligible for the third dose. However, depending on the intervention of the manager, there is an association between age and decreased antibodies.

“It seems that older people decrease antibody titers faster than younger people. We don’t know if this has clinical significance or loss of protection ”, added.

He also pointed out that people with comorbidities could benefit from a third dose.

“There is a specific group of people who are on medication or have immune disorders. People who have had transplants or cancer treatment. People who need immunosuppressive therapy for an underlying disease. In these people, we see that the response to two doses of the vaccine is weaker and that they could benefit from it ”, he said, noting that, if approved, the extra dose could be given to people over 60 and patients with underlying illnesses.

In other announcements on August 19, it was learned that the Department of Health would open the covid-19 vaccination planned for the group of young people between the ages of 15 and 19. The information was shared by the Minister of Health, Fernando Ruiz, on his Twitter account.

“The Ministry of Health is authorized to inform Colombians that from Saturday August 21, 2021, the scheduled vaccination will be open for the 15 to 19 age group, across the country.“, writes the portfolio manager.

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