According to the chairman of the Czech Vaccinological Society, Roman Chlibek, vaccination could begin in the Czech Republic in the first months of next year. “We are talking carefully about February to March. I would not bet on December, “Chlíbek told ČT on Tuesday, adding that the substance must first receive registration, which may be delayed. Risk groups should be given the vaccine first.
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Two doses required
“Certainly they are people over the age of 65, chronically ill with selected diagnoses,” said the vaccinologist. According to him, priority should also be given to employees of health care facilities, social services, home health care or teachers.
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Two doses are required for each vaccination. By the end of this year, Pfizer and BioNTech plan to produce the vaccine for 25 million people, or 50 million doses, and by the end of 2021, 1.3 billion doses.
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The companies have signed a $ 1.95 billion contract with the US government to supply one hundred million vaccines. Britain is expected to receive ten million doses by the end of the year, ordering another 30 million. The EU has contracted 200 million benefits with the possibility of another 100 million extensions.
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According to Chlibek, the company’s statement that the vaccine is up to 90% effective is promising. “It means that nine out of ten people will get real protection and one who may have symptoms will definitely be milder. Vaccination will also be a significant benefit for him, “says Chlíbek.
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In order for the vaccine to work and for the virus to stop spreading, the vaccination rate of the population must be high. “In order for the effect to be widespread on the unvaccinated part of the population, 60 to 65 percent of people must be vaccinated. The greater the immunization, the greater the certainty, “added Chlíbek.
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Czechs still look at covid vaccines with distrust; according to a recent international survey by the National Pandemic Alarm, only 36 percent of people in the Czech Republic have expressed their willingness to get vaccinated.
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It is stored in severe frost
“People are worried about something new. I am convinced that as the vaccine becomes widely used across Europe, confidence will gradually increase and there will be more interest among at-risk groups. As soon as people see that the vaccine is safe, interest will increase, “Chlíbek assumes.
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He said that according to the data available so far, about 60 percent of the volunteers had side effects that are comparable to other vaccinations. “That is, pain at the injection site, redness and fever. We encounter this with almost all vaccines, “said Chlíbek.
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The disadvantage of this vaccine may be that it must be stored at a very low temperature, at minus 80 degrees. One vial contains the vaccine for five people at a time and lasts only five days in the fridge. “This is not common with other vaccines, and not every doctor has such facilities. It will have to be used only where there are conditions for it, “said Chlíbek.
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Already in August, the EU concluded an agreement with the British company AstraZeneca on the supply of 400 million doses of another vaccine. These are to be divided according to the number of inhabitants in the member countries; the Czechia has up to 7.5 million vaccines.
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The Department of Health has so far ordered only three million doses to keep its hands free to purchase the vaccine from other manufacturers. A vaccine from Novavax, which recently bought production facilities near Prague, should also be available. Part of the vaccine will be manufactured in the Czech Republic, part in Sweden and will be assembled in Germany.
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