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The vaccination campaign in Argentina defined the advance of more people with the first dose amid the crisis in the production of antidotes around the world. According to the Public Vaccination Monitor, 15,082,417 first doses were applied and only 3,787,691 from the second phase. While it has shown positive effects, the Delta variant is severely affecting even countries with better vaccination numbers, such as the UK, which has half the population on a full regimen and is still currently experiencing strong regrowth.
The delay between the first dose and the second is of great concern to people about the vaccine’s effectiveness against the newer variants. At MDZ Radio We spoke with Jorge Geffner, doctor in biochemistry and specialist in immunology at CONICET to take stock of the studies that propose the combination of preparations.
If the first dose of Sputnik V is received, can a second dose of AstraZeneca be given? The immunologist explains that this possibility is under study and that it has a strong possibility of being an outcome since the production of the second component of the Russian vaccine causes greater difficulties in its production. However, it still does not have any approval from the competent authority such as ANMAT (National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology) in our country.
In the case of the United Kingdom, a pilot study was carried out with 200 volunteers where AstraZeneca and Pfizer were associated. “The effects have been shown to increase antibody production by 100,” Geffner said. It is not only in this country but also in Chile, the United States, France and Spain that the mixture of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines with Pfizer is tested. In this sense, they are not only different brands, but “their platforms are different. While the English is for adenovirus (inactivated virus) and the American is for messenger RNA.”
What if the first dose was Covishield, the second can be AstraZeneca? Argentina has received via the COVAX mechanism (Global Access Fund for Covid-19 Vaccines / Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access) vaccines from Covishield which were developed at the Serum Institute in Pune, India. It was a development based on the transfer of technology from the Oxford-AstraZeneca serum, making it “exactly the same vaccine,” Geffner recalled.
Carla Vizzotti mentioned the possibility of placing a reinforcement, that is to say a third inoculation. Regarding this, the immunologist explained that this is a topic that is already being discussed around the world. “We thought for a long time that an annual reinforcement would be incorporated, that is to say one year after the implementation of the first dose. What changed the Delta variant is that maybe the first dose and the second dilated dose schedule should be changed at three months. Why ? Because British studies have shown that for Pfizer and AstraZeneca, a single dose provides little protection. “The advantage we have today is that although they have entered, people have quarantined themselves and there is no community traffic from the Delta variant. But“ it’s going to happen at some point. “said the immunologist.
The imminent circulation of more dangerous variants which have already shattered the will to open up of all the countries where it spreads suggests not only a better and more effective vaccination scheme, but also the “porosity” of borders. These days, it has been revealed that 40% of people returning from abroad do not respect solitary confinement, but no steps have been taken to collaborate with this control. Jorge Geffner explains that in countries where much progress could be made in terms of vaccination, this was complemented by mandatory isolation of effective compliance for at least ten days in a hotel where this could be guaranteed. “You arrive, they put you in a transport that takes you to the hotel you have chosen from a list of providers and there you stay with food and a daily 15-minute permit to leave the room.” Everything indicates that this is the only way to control the containment of travelers.
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