The authorities of the Ministry of Health gave a press conference this Friday, January 21, to report on the covid-19 pandemic; Among the details, they highlighted the effectiveness of the vaccines available in the country.
The Minister of Health, Francisco Coma, mentioned the growth in positive cases of covid-19 and highlighted that the omicron variant is highly contagious.
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He said that there is a perception that this is a very benign variant, but we must be clear that we are facing another variant of covid-19.
He added that this strain, due to its characteristics, has a severe impact on the unvaccinated population and on people with chronic comorbidities, even if they are vaccinated.
It also has a significant impact on those people who have had a dose of the vaccine, even both, and who have not come for the booster dose.
Coma added that they have received the results of the tests sent to Panama and it was established that 100% correspond to the omicron strain.
Vaccine effectiveness
Leslie Samayoa, Technical Vice Minister of the Ministry of Health, highlighted that all vaccines against covid-19 that are authorized by Health are of quality, safe and effective.
He called on the population to complete the vaccination schedule and administer the booster dose.
He stressed that according to scientific information provided by the manufacturers, Moderna has an efficacy of 94.1%, this efficacy may decrease in people over 65 years of age.
He noted that Moderna protects against all variants and there are preliminary studies that it may protect against the omicron variant.
Pfizer provides 95% protection, preliminary studies also indicate that it may be effective against omicron that currently predominates in Guatemala.
While Sputnik V reports efficacy between 91.6% and 97.6%, it is effective against all variants and according to one study, the effectiveness of this vaccine against the omicron variant increases by 80% after the booster dose.
In the case of AstraZeneca, the effectiveness is 76% and previous studies show that it may have protection against the omicron variant. Its effectiveness can be increased with heterologous schemes.
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Edwin Montúfar, Deputy Minister of Primary Care, highlighted the actions of the vaccination strategy in the population over 12 years of age.
He stated that from January 7 to 9 they administered 282 thousand 257 doses of different biologicals.
availability of tests
Montúfar also indicated that they are supplied with rapid diagnostic tests, currently in the Health Areas there are 1 million 112 thousand 843 available and in the central plant warehouses the availability is 1 thousand 501 thousand 600.
Jorge Meneses, Vice Minister of Hospitals, reported that of the 688 patients who have been admitted to the hospital network due to covid-19 from January 1 to 21, 87% of these were not vaccinated, 2% had one dose and 11% with both doses.
He said that patients with the complete scheme have reported concomitant diseases, that is, there are other chronic pathologies.
Vaccine effectiveness
Health shares the effectiveness of the covid-19 vaccines authorized in Guatemala.
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