Here are the characteristics, side effects and immunity of the Pfizer vaccines that have arrived in Colombia today

A few hours ago, the first 50,000 vaccines from the company Pfizer BioNTech arrived in Colombia, with which the first line of health workers and adults over 80 years old will start to be vaccinated from February 20 or even earlier. . was reported by the Minister of Health, Fernando Ruiz, this Monday morning. Infobae Colombia presents its characteristics.

This formula from North American and German companies, Pfizer and BioNtech, was the first to obtain approval from the European Union to be marketed on December 21. After testing 43,500 people, it was found to have an efficacy of 95%, the highest of all, followed by the American firms Moderna (94.1%) and Russian Sputnik (91%).

The national government has purchased Pfizer BioNTech vaccine worth $ 10 million, with which 5 million people in the country will be vaccinated, because each person needs two doses. Between one administration and another, between 21 and 28 days must elapse, one week after the second dose is the time when optimal protection is obtained.

Also, more doses of Pfizer could reach the country through the COVAX mechanism – the Global Access Fund for covid-19 vaccines – although the total is unknown.

One of the most prominent differences between Pfizer biologics and those of other pharmaceutical companies is that they should be stored at a temperature of -70 ° C. Thus, the doses arrived on Monday must remain stored in freezers in two warehouses in the Bogota Free Zone, to then be distributed to the rest of the country, with the help of the Air Force.

How it works compared to other vaccines and side effects

Pfizer vaccines, according to the explanation that Minister Fernando Ruiz has given since December 202, when he announced the purchase contract with this firm. “has a new messenger RNA technology, where part of the genome is lodged in the mitochondria of the cell. It differs from other vaccines in that it does not incorporate any living agent but only messenger RNA, which acts on the virus, generating a peak which produces the immune response to generate antibodies ”. The Moderna vaccine, it should be noted, also works with messenger RNA.

Regarding the side effects of Pfizer, the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AMPS) explained that, they are mild or moderate and disappear between the second and third day after application. Some of the more common side effects are swelling of the arm, fatigue, feeling tired, and joint pain and headache.

According to the Ministry of Health, the population over the age of 80 will be applied, to a greater extent, to the doses of AstraZeneca and Sinovac.

Because they are the ones who guarantee the amount most needed at the moment, in addition to those received via the Covax mechanism ”.

2.5 million Chinese Sinovac vaccines will arrive in the country to vaccinate 1.25 million Colombians Its effectiveness for mild cases in Brazil was 78%, in Indonesia it was 65% and in Turkey it was 91%. In patients with severe covid-19, who require hospitalization, became 100%. Doses are indicated for patients aged 16 to 60 years.

Regarding the vaccines of AstraZeneca, a Swedish-British company, on February 3, the scientific journal The Lancet let it be known that with a single dose, an efficacy of 76% is achieved and that with the second dose, applied three months later, it increases to 82.4%. This vaccine has been tested in children under the age of 55, which is why countries like Austria, Sweden, Poland and Italy have only approved it for those who are under that age. .

Vaccine immunity

Regarding vaccine immunity, Minister Fernando Ruiz said on Blu Radio that the doses developed by Pfizer and other laboratories have similarities to influenza vaccines: “It does not guarantee that you will not have the flu throughout the post-vaccination period, but it does ensure that the flu is of low intensity.”

The results of a recent survey, published by the magazine Science, they show that 95% of people vaccinated with Pfizer can build up enough defenses to prevent illness for eight months. However, laboratories continue to study what is the immunological memory after inoculation.

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