While the vaccination with the third vaccine against him covid-19 reaches 30% of the population, the Ministry of Health is already analyzing the application of a fourth dose for May this year.
Ximena Garzón, head of Health, said in an interview on February 23, 2022 that planning is under way place the fourth dosea topic that was addressed in a recent meeting he had with the medical adviser of the White HouseAnthony Fauci.
The purpose of the Government is to give the population a booster dose every five months. Garzón announced that the vaccinated people in December they would receive the biological again in May of this year and, as on previous occasions, the first group would be personnel from first line and Adults greater.
Inequity in access to vaccines
For the teacher and researcher, Alberto Narváez, a fourth dose could work in the country, however, it is not sustainable in the long term due to inequity globally in terms of access to vaccines. While some regions have more than 85% immunization, others, such as Africa They don’t even reach 10%.
This low immunization could cause the emergence of new variants as it happened with Omicron. “Governments do not understand that if there is no global control of the covid-19 Another variant, perhaps more contagious and lethal, will come to us,” says Narváez.
There is no need to go very far, says the researcher, saying that there is currently a underlines of Omicron, the BA.2. Studies suggest that it is highly infectious and spreads even faster than the original (BA.1). Furthermore, as was seen with Omicron, he would escape the immunity by vaccines.
The specialist considers that more than a fourth dose, it is necessary to advance and promote vaccination with the reinforcement especially in people of groups priority.
Vaccines need to be updated
For his part, Fernando Sacoto, president of the Society of Public Health of Ecuadormentions a recent study by the scientific journal The Lancet which among its conclusions highlights that laboratories they need to redouble efforts so that vaccines provide a protection range larger than what they are currently offering.
The doctor emphasizes that it is clear that after four or six months the protection level decreases, however, one cannot depend on vaccines for an indefinite time because those that are being manufactured have a protection limited.
For Sacoto the government should examine more deeply and seriously the scientific studies in this regard and even get involved in global movements that demand not only greater equity in vaccines but that pharmaceutical laboratories work for greater effectiveness and that commercial interest does not prevail over that of the population.
Catalina Yépez, health specialist, indicates that before thinking about a fourth vaccine, the authorities must first ensure that the entire vulnerable population, with underlying diseases and children are inoculated. After that, she does consider that it should be applied to continue strengthening the immunity and progress to relative normality.
The specialist agrees with Sacoto in the sense that vaccines should update to provide better and longer-term protection, such as that of the influenza which is placed once a year.
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