(CRH file)
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(CRHoy.com) Apply a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is a possibility analyzed by the National Commission for Vaccination and Epidemiology (CNVE).
This was announced by the Minister of Health, Daniel Salas, in an interview with CRHoy.com, where he assured that that analysis is constant while it is given has scientific evidence more “solid”.
“It is a constant analysis, at the moment that there is important evidence that we can take into consideration, we would have to see for what type of population it would be applicable (the fourth dose) and how long the third dose would have to be applied,” he explained. the hierarch
Salas added that they are waiting forand a more conclusive study comes out that indicates the need of this second reinforcement.
In the meantime, some countries in the region already apply this fourth dose. In Chile, those over 18 years of age are injected, while in the city of Buenos Aires, in Argentina, immunosuppressed people receive the double booster.
They are joined by Denmark and Israel, where this biological is also placed.
It would not be necessary
For Dr. Juan José Romero, an epidemiologist at the National University (A) there is still no consensus in the scientific community about the real need to resort to that second booster against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
“This issue contains an ethical and humane approach, since rich countries monopolize the vaccines to apply a quarter dose their population, while low- and middle-income nations do not have access to them. There are countries where not even 10% of their population has had access to a dose of vaccine and in others the vaccine is already injected quarter dose,” he noted.
Romero commented that this second reinforcement in the country is not necessaryunless another variant emerges and it is required a new dose with a modified vaccine. Or to be placed in groups of first line of care, health workers or in people with particular diseases.
“Here the priority is to complete the booster in the population over 18 years of age and then continue with the population from 12 to 18 years of age and, eventually, with those under 5 to 11 years of age who are further behind because they have started the vaccination schedule later. ”, highlighted the epidemiologist.
Pfizer will ask for authorization
The pharmaceutical company Pfizer announced that a fourth dose of your vaccine will be needed against COVID-19.
The company noted that although the third injection is sufficient to protect against disease and death, it is necessary to increase immunity against the virus.
“Right now, according to our own studies, a fourth booster dose is required (…) (the third vaccine) is not good enough against infections, it does not last long,” he said. Albert Bourla, CEO of the company, through a televised interview.
Pfizer will have to Submit data to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in order to receive approval.
For the European Medicines Agency (EMA, for its acronym in English) “first we must see the efficacy of current vaccines and how it continues to be developed before ómicron (…) there is still not enough evidence.”
Vaccination advances
In our country the authorities included the third dose in order to complete the scheme. At the cutoff of this March 7, the vaccinating teams of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) they had applied 9,582,303.
Of these, 4,235,270 (82%) were first doses; 3,859,818 (74.8%) second injections; and 1,487,215 (28.8%) reinforcements.
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