New vaccination option against COVID-19

The first traditional protein vaccine against COVID-19, whose use in the United States has recently been approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, represents an additional opportunity for citizens to protect themselves from the persistent virus and its variants.

The Novavax drug is described as an alternative for people who have never been inoculated against COVID-19. It would help curb the rebound of the virus that continues to hit the United States and Puerto Rico. On the island, at least 266,693 people are not inoculated; in the United States, nearly a quarter of the adult population.

Novavax, which is a more traditional product, contains lab-grown copies of the virus spike protein, plus an organic ingredient that stimulates the immune system. Clinical trials with more than 17,000 people have shown a prevention potential against COVID-19 of 90.4%. Epidemiologists reaffirm that all available vaccines reduce the severe effects of the virus in case of contagion, being the best protection in the current pandemic scenario.

The high level of community infections in Puerto Rico makes it necessary to maintain health precautions against COVID-19. This predominantly includes getting the boosters or the first inoculation, as the case may be. At the same time, it is advisable to continue wearing a mask, especially inside closed structures, without relegating frequent hand washing and regular disinfection of domestic and commercial spaces, among other measures.

Puerto Rico has enough booster doses available for free administration throughout the country. The same happens with the new vaccines for children between six months and four years of age, recently approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration. What is required is a receptive attitude on the part of the people.

It is concerning that almost half of the population in Puerto Rico is not up to date with their COVID-19 vaccination series. The Department of Health estimated that segment at 1,934,086 people, just as it reported a positivity rate of 30.94%. In the United States, that indicator is 18%. The control rate established by the World Health Organization is 5% or less.

Neglecting precautions against COVID-19 is associated with outbreaks that promote contagion in families and communities. The health agency reported last Wednesday that deaths from the virus rose to 4,700 as a result of nine additional deaths confirmed in previous days. The agency indicated that eight of those patients were not up to date on vaccinations. Yesterday the cumulative number of deaths rose to 4,725.

It is important to emphasize that research scientists continue to investigate in depth the negative effects of COVID-19 and its variants on human health. Recent studies have documented serious effects, such as damage to blood vessels in the brain and long-term conditions in people with pre-existing conditions or who were healthy before contracting the virus.

The medical efforts to overcome the pandemic challenge deserve to be highlighted. Experimentation to improve monoclonal antibody treatments and discard those that are not sufficiently effective are among the efforts.

The scientific community has technical and professional support from the various fields of health in the fight to block the advance of COVID-19. But it urgently needs citizen solidarity translated into precautionary measures that are easy to implement to direct the contagion curve towards sustained decline.

The map to protect the health, and even the life, of loved ones is clearly designed with the help of vaccination. What is needed is the responsible action of each of the people and families to be inoculated.

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