Controversy generated the comment of the Undersecretary of Public Health, Cristóbal Cuadrado, that for the moment they would not consider the application of a fifth dose of vaccine against covid-19. Statements that are given in the midst of the Minsal announcement about 192 covid patients hospitalized in the ICU, a hospitalization stage that reached the highest since May 5.
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Diverse opinions generated the comment of the Undersecretary of Public Health, Cristóbal Cuadrado, that for the moment they would not take into consideration the application of a fifth dose of vaccine against covid-19.
This announcement was made in the midst of the critical assessment made by the minsal this Wednesday, where it was reported that 192 patients with coronavirus are in the ICU due to a serious illness from the virus, and 117 of them are on mechanical ventilation.
This is the highest figure since the 197 hospitalized on May 5.
This decision, assured the health authority, would be associated with the fact that there would not be sufficient evidence to support its administration. In addition, he added that it would have been observed that the levels of protection of the fourth dose would remain high, even up to five and a half months.
risk communication
This assertion generated diverse opinions; and there are those who consider that it would be a somewhat premature decision.
The dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Autonomous University, Luis Castillo, said that before talking about a fifth dose, pointing to the high protection that the fourth has, it is necessary to reinforce that people actually apply it.
“Before ruling out or affirming a fifth dose, what needs to be done is to update, enhance the vaccination plan for the third and fourth doses. And address the vaccination plan with adequate risk communication, which has been quite weak in recent weeks,” Castillo said.
The Advisory Committee on Vaccines and Immunization Strategies (CAVEI) recommended boosting with this fifth dose, better called the third booster dose, to the high-risk population, such as older adults, immunocompromised people and health personnel.
The infectologist at the German Clinic, Jaime Rodríguez, referred to this.
“It should be reinforced, but only in the high-risk population at this time; and in the general population in which the immune response is more robust, it can be calmly analyzed for the future. We believe that risk communication should be emphasized, and especially in catching up with previous booster vaccinations, “said the specialist.
However, from the Ministry they commented that it is an issue that is still under evaluation with the External Advisory Council, so they would not have news in the short term.
Let us remember that this week all people, from the age of 12, who received their booster dose until January 30 of this year, can be vaccinated with their fourth dose.
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