22:04 | BioNTech / Pfizer vaccine is less effective against South African variant
The South African variant of the coronavirus has a greater ability to “break through” the defenses of the BioNTech / Pfizer vaccine than other forms of the virus, researchers who conducted a study at the University of Tel Aviv and Clalit, in Israel, declared this Sunday.
The study compared 400 unvaccinated people who contracted the virus with another 400 partially or fully vaccinated people who were also infected. Among the 150 people who received the required two doses of the vaccine, “the prevalence rate (of the South African variant) was eight times higher than in unvaccinated people,” the experts noted.
21:01 | Brazil concludes unprecedented worldwide vaccination experiment
Brazil finished this Sunday the unprecedented Project S, for which it carried out a massive vaccination in Serrana with the aim of analyzing the effectiveness of the Chinese CoronaVac vaccine. In the city of 45,600 inhabitants, located in the state of Sao Paulo, some 28,000 people older than 18 years must be immunized.
As the immune response of CoronaVac will only be seen two weeks after the second dose has been applied to the entire target audience, the first conclusions of the experiment will only be known around mid-May. The so-called vaccination process began on February 17.
20:38 | France registers almost 35,000 infections in one day
France registered 34,895 new cases this Sunday, increasing the pressure on French hospitals, despite hopeful signs of a decrease in infections thanks to the restrictions.
The government also reported 178 deaths in the last 24 hours, after reporting 210 on Saturday. France accumulates 98,909 deaths in total and 5,119,585 infections, according to Johns Hopkins University (JHU).
19:26 | Brazil has more young than old patients in intensive care
The number of people aged 39 and younger admitted to intensive care for COVID-19 increased in March to more than 11,000, representing 52.2% of the total, according to the UCI Project.
At the beginning of the pandemic, the figure was only 14.6% and between September and February 45%. Likewise, patients over 80 years of age, who went from 13.6% to 7.8% of the total in intensive care in March, are now mostly vaccinated.
18:11 | China studies mixing various vaccines to increase efficacy
The director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of China, Gao Fu, indicated at a conference in the city of Chengdu that Beijing is evaluating two ways “to solve the problem that the efficacy of current vaccines is not high,” reported this sunday the hongkong daily South China Morning Post.
One of these would be to adjust the inoculation, either by increasing the dose, the number of doses or the spacing between them; and the other combining vaccines of different types of technology. According to the Hong Kong newspaper, “it is the first time that a Chinese scientist has publicly discussed the relatively low efficacy of Chinese vaccines.”
17:43 | India bans export of remdesivir, used against COVID-19
India on Sunday banned exports of the drug remdesivir, in a context of increased infections, collapses in hospitals and a growing demand for the drug, used against the coronavirus.
In recent weeks, cases have skyrocketed in India. The Health Ministry said that the increase caused a “sudden increase in demand” for the antiviral that could continue to grow, so it decided to ban its export “until the situation improves.”
afp / reuters / ap / dpa / jhu / la terpera / g1 / efe / rr
The vaccines that promise to defeat the coronavirus
Sputnik V, Instituto Gamaleya
The “Russian vaccine” aroused initial mistrust, but it has established itself as an option for a score of countries, including Argentina, Bolivia and Venezuela. The doubts arose due to its rapid approval, in August 2020, without having finished the tests. However, subsequent studies give high efficacy to this preparation, which uses adenoviral vectors to elicit immunity.
–
–
The vaccines that promise to defeat the coronavirus
BNT162b2, BioNTech/Pfizer
The vaccine from the German firm BioNTech uses a previously unpublished technology: lipid-covered mRNA. Simply explained, the vaccine “mimics” the form of SARS-CoV-2, eliciting the body’s response. In trials it showed high efficacy, which has been replicated in real conditions. The Pfizer firm acts in the alliance as a partner in manufacturing. It is used in a score of countries.
–
–
The vaccines that promise to defeat the coronavirus
mRNA-1273, Modern
The vaccine developed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the Advanced Biomedical Research and Development Authority (BARDA), and the Moderna firm uses technology similar to BioNTech’s. In trials it demonstrated an efficacy close to 95 percent. Unlike BioNTech, this formula can be stored at -20 degrees. It is used in the US and the European Union.
–
–
The vaccines that promise to defeat the coronavirus
AZD1222, Oxford-AstraZeneca
This vaccine developed by British and Swedish experts uses a modified chimpanzee adenovirus as a vector. The trials took place in the UK, Brazil, South Africa, Japan and India, and were interrupted a couple of times by suspicious deaths. However, its safety and efficacy ranging from 60 to 90 percent have been confirmed. It is used in Brazil, the EU and the UK.
–
–
The vaccines that promise to defeat the coronavirus
Ad5-nCoV, Cansino Biologics
This Chinese firm’s vaccine uses the common cold adenovirus to introduce an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 protein into the human body, eliciting an immune response. It has been used in China to inoculate soldiers of the People’s Army, and the tests were carried out in Russia, Pakistan, Mexico, Chile and Argentina. It is currently used in Mexico, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Use only one dose.
–
–
The vaccines that promise to defeat the coronavirus
CoronaVac, Sinovac Biotech
Like many vaccines that use inactivated viruses, this formula uses SARS-CoV-2 particles grown in cultures and inactivated before being injected into the body. The presence of these viruses triggers the immune reaction and prevents the disease from developing. Tested in Brazil, Indonesia, Chile and Turkey, it shows an effectiveness of more than 50 percent.
–
–
The vaccines that promise to defeat the coronavirus
BBV152, Bharat Biotech
Also with inactivated viruses, this vaccine developed by Bharat and the Indian Council for Medical Research is known as Covaxin, and has shown 81 percent efficacy in clinical trials. At the time, it sparked controversy for being inoculated in medical workers when the formula was still in phase I clinical trials. India is now seeking approval in other markets.
–
–
The vaccines that promise to defeat the coronavirus
BBIBP-CorV, Sinopharm
With trials in Argentina, Peru, the United Arab Emirates and other states, this Chinese inactivated virus vaccine has already been approved in Middle Eastern countries. According to studies, it would be 86 percent effective. Sinopharm is in the eye of controversy in Peru for having sent “courtesy vaccines” for politicians and for having donated thousands of dollars to the government.
–
–
The vaccines that promise to defeat the coronavirus
Ad26.COV2.S, Johnson & Johnson
Along with CanSino’s, it is the only single-dose vaccine to date. It is developed by the Belgian firm Janssen Pharmaceutica, a subsidiary of the American Johnson & Johnson. It can be stored in a normal refrigerator and has been shown to be more than 66 percent efficient. It uses a non-replicative viral vector derived from human adenovirus A26.
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
