The province of Santiago del Estero began this Wednesday to apply the bivalent vaccine against the coronavirus after receiving 20,000 doses of the Pfizer immunizerreported official sources.
“This reinforcement is very necessary for everyone over 12 years of age because the virus continues to circulate and we must protect ourselves,” the woman told Télam. Head of the Provincial Immunization Program, Florencia Coronelwho recalled that it is a bivalent dose because it protects against two variants of SARS-CoV-2 (the original and the Omicron).
The official explained that 20,000 doses were distributed this Tuesday in the capital and the city of La Banda and assured that in the coming days they will reach the rest of the province gradually and as they receive more doses.
Colonel pointed out that this vaccine is indicated as a booster dose. “People over 12 years of age who have a primary scheme or have other boosters can be vaccinated with this bivariate, since a scheme cannot be started with this vaccine,” he specified, adding that four months must have passed since the previous application.
“The bivariate vaccine against Covid-19 allows a broader immunological protection, since it defends both the original variants and the new Ómicron strain and its Ba.4 and Ba.5 variants”, he remarked.
The official maintained that “this summer we have had another wave, since in December and January we have seen an increase in cases and the objective of the vaccine is to protect severe forms and mortality.”
“We have seen this regretting that the fatalities of Covid (in the province) in recent times have been people who had only their doses of the initial scheme or no dose applied,” he commented.
In this sense, he pointed out that “vaccines are useful and effective for protect from severe forms of Covid, especially for people over 60 years of age, the immunocompromised, pregnant women and all health personnel”.
Bivalent vaccines are available at permanent health centers in the capital and La Banda and can be inoculated without prior registration or shift, although the DNI and vaccination card must be presented, although this last requirement is not exclusive.
