The opinion of a covid-19 pulmonologist in response to the fears of the famous virologist
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“It normally takes 5 to 8 years to produce a vaccine. For this reason, without data available, I would not have the first vaccine that should arrive in January. Because I would like to be sure that this vaccine has been properly tested and meets all safety and efficacy criteria. I am entitled to it as a citizen and am not willing to accept shortcuts“: The harsh words of the virologist Andrea Crisanti, spread to Focus Live, leave operators and the general public perplexed. So then? We have a vaccine on the way, but should we fear it? The first recipients will be doctors and health workers, and so we asked a pulmonologist in the covid department of Niguarda for an opinion on this position, to understand if the fears of the famous virologist are widespread or shared.
“Safety is not underestimated”
“What Crisanti says may also make sense, but there are evaluation criteria, ethical and scientific committees that validate the approval of a vaccine, and evaluate whether it has passed safety tests.”Replies the pulmonologist from the covid-19 ward of the Niguarda hospital in Milan Matteo Saporiti. “It is not up to me – but I don’t believe even to Crisanti – to make this type of evaluation, it being understood that we are certainly not able to wait the canonical 5/8 years for the validation and marketing of a vaccine. On the Pfizer vaccine we can carry on some reasoning on the skipped processes and on the fact that – consequently – there may be longer times to develop immunity. But on the safety: let it be determined who is responsible for doing it. For sure, if my hospital offers me a vaccine, I will have no doubts about its safety: let’s wait no more“.
“A strong comment”
“Honestly, such a comment seems out of place“, Continues Saporiti”which can easily inflame the minds of those who are already ill disposed to vaccinations. A vaccine was what we have been waiting for a long time and only a mass vaccination can solve this pandemic relatively quickly, if it is true as it is true that the coronavirus will not go away on its own. I repeat: we can argue about the type of vaccine, but not that the vaccine can and should be widespread. This is the first light at the end of the tunnel and good news remains”.
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