– I hope that they at home can get a little more freedom, and especially my daughter of five, that she can participate a little more in activities in her age group, says Anne-Lise A. Olsen to NTB.
This week she received a fourth dose of corona vaccine through the research project Nor-vaC at Akershus University Hospital (Ahus) and Diakonhjemmet Hospital.
Initially, this is only given to patients who participate in studies, and who have been through liver and kidney transplants. This group often goes on several immunosuppressive medications at the same time, which means that the vaccine works poorly and they risk serious illness if they get corona.
– A large proportion of these patients unfortunately have a poor response to vaccination. These patients and their loved ones have lived in complete isolation for almost two years, which can eventually become very psychologically stressful, says chief physician Kristin Kaasen Jørgensen, who is leading the Nor-vaC study at Ahus.
– When we called the patients to offer them a fourth dose of vaccine, many said yes before we had finished the sentence. I think this is the best Christmas present these patients could get, says Jørgensen.
VACCINE: Chief physician Kristin Kaasen Jørgensen at Ahus. Anne-Lise A. Olsen (in the background) receives her fourth dose of corona vaccine from nurse Synnøve Aure. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB
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Effect of third dose
The same patients were also first in line to receive a third dose.
– Of the liver transplant patients, the majority had no response or poor response after the second vaccine dose. After the third dose, we see that a number more received a response, and we hope that this applies to even more after the fourth dose, says the superior.
The immune response is measured by checking antibodies in the blood after vaccination. A total of 2000 patients from the gastromedical department at Ahus and the rheumatology department at Diakonhjemmet hospital participate in the study.
– We see that between 10 and 15 percent of the patients in the study did not have a good enough effect of two vaccine doses. These were offered a third dose, and now we want to offer a fourth dose to those who also did not receive a satisfactory response after three doses, says Jørgensen.
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– Sacrificing a lot
Anne-Lise A. Olsen crosses her fingers that she now has a little more immunity to the coronavirus. The family has had their lives turned upside down during the pandemic.
– We are really very social and like to participate in what is happening in the local community, have friends over for dinner and go out to eat. After the start of the pandemic, there has been very little of this. The worst thing is that the family sacrifices so much to keep me healthy. We see extremely little of friends and family to reduce the chance of being exposed to corona, she says.
In kindergarten, the daughter is only with the other children when they are outdoors. The rest of the time she is at home with her mother.
– She notices that it is starting to get boring with mom, Olsen says.
TURNED UP: Olsen and her family have had their lives turned upside down during the pandemic. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB
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Will give to more
Initially, a small group of liver transplant patients receive a fourth dose of vaccine at Ahus, but also at Rikshospitalet, kidney transplant patients have received a fourth dose.
– We also hope to be able to offer this to the other patient groups in the study, as soon as the formalities are in order, says Jørgensen.
Professor Jørgen Jahnsen, who heads the research activities at the gastromedical department at Ahus, does not rule out that the rest of the population will also eventually receive a fourth dose.
– It can happen quickly. We will see how quickly the immune response is lost in people after the third dose, he says, and points out that we will probably have to live with the virus for a long time anyway.
Last week, health director Bjørn Guldvog said P4 that it is possible that the broad section of the population may receive a fourth “tailor-made” vaccine dose to meet the new omicron variant of the coronavirus.
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