COVID-19: vaccine update to be released

Pzifer’s new commercial release offers hope against new strains and diseases. However, if it is not included in the government’s vaccination campaigns, this could generate inequality in access to health due to economic reasons.

This is Staff news

Amid a spike in COVID-19 infections in Mexico, Pfizer is in the final stretch to market an updated version of its vaccine against the virus. The pharmaceutical company is waiting for approval from the Federal Commission for Protection against Health Risks (Cofepris) to start distributing the dose, which is designed to fight the latest variants of COVID- 19, with a particular focus on the JN1 strain.

The urgency to update the vaccine

Pfizer’s director of medical affairs in Latin America, Yessika Moreno, emphasized in a recent meeting with the media the importance of a vaccine being adapted to the new mutations of the virus. “The 2020 virus no longer exists,” said Moreno, referring to the 80 mutations that the Ómicron variant shows, which have shown that the original vaccines, designed for a virus that is no longer present , has lost effectiveness.

This new biologic, which may be available for sale in October, uses messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, allowing the vaccine to quickly adapt to changes in the environment. crop “It is necessary to update the vaccine to maintain its effectiveness, especially now, when we have seen a rebound in infections driven by the respiratory disease season,” said Moreno.

The impact of the pandemic in Mexico

Although the situation in Mexico is not as critical as it was in the early years of the pandemic, recent data indicate that the virus is still a threat. According to Moreno, in August 2023, 36% of the COVID-19 tests performed in the country received positive results. The most affected groups are people over 60 years old and children under the age of five, vulnerable sectors where diseases are concentrated. Between January and August of this year, 4,200 deaths related to the virus were recorded, a sign that although COVID-19 no longer dominates the headlines, it is still present in everyday life .

Distribution and storage challenges

One of the biggest concerns regarding the vaccine is its distribution and storage, as it must be kept at a very low temperature to preserve its effectiveness. Pfizer has invested heavily in ensuring that this process achieves the highest standards. The vaccines arrived in Mexico from Belgium, entering through Felipe Ángeles International Airport before being transported to the Medistik by Traxion distribution center in Toluca.

The distribution system is designed to keep vaccines at a temperature of -80 degrees Celsius using a complex deep freeze system with dry ice. Each batch of vaccines is tracked using a geolocation system, and strict protocols are followed to ensure that doses arrive in optimal conditions at points of sale, such as pharmacies and hospitals.

Pfizer and retail sales: what next?

Access to the new vaccine will not be limited to public vaccination campaigns only. Pfizer has already established agreements with large chains such as Walmart and Farmacias del Ahorro to offer the dose to the general public. However, the federal government has not received new doses from the first mass vaccination campaigns in 2021, leaving individuals with the responsibility of purchasing the vaccine privately.

This new situation raises questions about equity in access to the vaccine. While those with more resources can easily access the updated dose, more vulnerable populations are likely to have difficulty obtaining it, exacerbating health care disparities. In this sense, the government’s decisions regarding the purchase of new doses for the public sector will be crucial in the coming months.

A hidden threat

As the year progresses, Mexican health authorities are faced with the challenge of balancing the normalization of daily life with the ongoing threat of COVID-19. Although infection rates are not comparable to the peaks seen in 2020 and 2021, the distribution of variants such as JN1 and the rebound in respiratory illnesses during the winter season are reminders that the virus is still present.

“What we have learned in these years is that the pandemic is not gone. The virus has moved, and is affecting our population, especially the most vulnerable,” Moreno said. When the new Pfizer vaccine is expected to be launched, a new phase is opening in the fight against COVID-19, where a stable vaccine will be adapted to the crucial variables to avoid interruption in the they achieved.

Updating vaccines, along with continued surveillance and investment in distribution infrastructure, will be essential to ensure the country is prepared to deal with any future outbreaks. As the deadline for the approval of the Cofepris vaccine approaches, the main question is whether Mexico will be able to deal effectively and fairly with this new phase of the pandemic.