Iman Rashidi
The Hague, November 24 (EFE).- The European Medicines Agency (EMA) warned this Thursday that the number of booster vaccinations against COVID-19 in Europe in recent months is “quite disappointing” and has warned of the risk of a new wave in winter because the virus “maintains an accelerated pace” in its evolution.
In a virtual press conference, EMA’s Head of Vaccination Strategy, Marco Cavaleri, highlighted the “concern that people at risk of hospitalization or severe COVID-19 are not adequately protected” and regretted that only an average of 29% of the population at high risk of serious disease have received booster doses in recent months.
“The administration of additional doses of vaccines in recent months is quite disappointing,” he stressed. She stressed that “the evolution of the virus maintains an accelerated pace” and that, although we are not observing an increase in cases in the EU due to high immunity, “this could change rapidly as we approach the winter months”. .
He recalled that the risk of developing severe COVID-19 in case of infection “increases exponentially if you are 60 years of age or older” and assured that “the older you are, the greater the risk, and vaccines can save your life “.
According to the preliminary data collected so far, vaccines adapted to the new variants increase protection against currently circulating omicron subvariants, thus “revaccinations with adapted vaccines increase protection” against the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2.
MENSES
On the other hand, Cavaleri also referred to the cases of heavy menstrual bleeding found in some women who received mRNA vaccines (Pfizer or Moderna), which has already been added to the vaccine package insert as a possible side effect of non-determined frequency . .
“Our safety committee noted that most cases appeared to be temporary and not serious. There is no evidence to show that menstrual disturbances experienced by some people impact reproduction and fertility,” she said.
Data from various studies reaffirm that vaccines against Covid-19 are “safe and provide protection for pregnant women and their babies,” she says, recalling that newborns are “particularly vulnerable to the dire consequences” of the virus.
“EMA is also contributing to international efforts to advance the development of mucosal vaccines that are administered through the nose, mouth or inhalation, which could enhance their ability to prevent infection and block transmission,” has explained.
THE PANDEMIC CONTINUES
The European agency also warns that the pandemic is not over yet.
“It is a semantic debate. Technically we are still in a pandemic (…) Despite the fact that many societies have reopened and we are deemed to be back to normal, the virus is still circulating out there, with a potential to spread, particularly large in vulnerable people who are not vaccinated . So I would still consider the pandemic to be continuing,” added Steffen Thirstrup, EMA’s chief medical officer.
However, he believes that “we are getting close to having something like controlling the spread of the virus in Europe, but we have to keep in mind that we are part of a global society, so as soon as some restrictions are lifted or vaccination is reduced, there is the risk of new regrowth,” he warned. EFE extension
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