The Minister of Health, Begoña Yarzaraised this morning that it will be necessary to implement a new booster dose against Covid-19, but that in the short term it is not yet contemplated, given that -according to what has been analyzed from his portfolio- immunological protection with the complete vaccination scheme is lasting more than six months.
In an interview with Chilevisión, the Secretary of State confirmed that “what we saw is that the third dose was effective up to six months and then it began to fall (…). But when we continue to look now, people who have two booster doses – what we call the fourth dose – with six months they are great as a response”.
The analysis is carried out -as he explained- in conjunction with the committee of experts, monitoring the immunological behavior of a control group, made up of people with the complete vaccination schedule, and the Covid-19 indicators in order to determine the effectiveness and the time of protection against mortality and hospitalization provided by vaccines.
“It seems that the effective coverage for when one has a booster dose is not the same as when you have two booster doses. Then, immunity is lasting more than six months”, he detailed
The Health authority also clarified that, despite the effectiveness of the last dose, there will continue to be new reinforcements against the coronavirus from time to time. “The immune response is good, but of course there will be one more booster dose, not just one, but most likely all the years of our lives we will be boosting ourselves for the coronavirus, that is here to stay, the question is when and to whom”, he explained.
In addition, he pointed out that it is being developed by the industry a new vaccine that will incorporate more than one variant of Covid-19 and that will make it possible to extend immune protection. “Several of the laboratories with which we have contracts are looking to make a bivalent vaccine -as we do with influenza- that has variants that are already there and the Omicron variant. Ideally, we would be able to vaccinate with this new technology,” he maintained.
Likewise, the minister assured that if the indicators of the coronavirus increase -such as the positivity and hospitalization rates- booster doses are available to vaccinate the population at risk.
The head of Health also addressed the announced “Copayment Zero” made this week by the governmentin which it was detailed that a program will be implemented to consecrate the gratuity in the Public Health Network for those users corresponding to sections C and D of Fonasa.
Along the same lines -and like the Minister of the General Secretariat of the Government, Camila Vallejo-, she took the opportunity to answer the questions of the former Minister of Health, Jaime Mañalich, who assured that the measure promoted by the Executive did not adhere to the principle of legality.
“Dr. Mañalich draws my attention, because he is someone who knows the health system as a minister. The change that we make only requires a decree signed by the Minister of Health and by Mario Marcel -Minister of Finance-, and therefore does not require a law. We have not committed anything illegal, “he assured in his conversation with Chilevisión.
–
