“At this time, we do not know what will happen over a period of more than eight months since the completion of the clinical trials. The AstraZeneca vaccine or something like that may protect you for ten years.” and the one from Pfizer and Moderna, only one or two years. The immune response is very complex, we still don’t fully understand how it works “, said Prof. Dr. Radu Iliescu, vice-rector of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy” Grigore T. Popa ” , for Ziarul de Iasi.
The expert considers it wrong to focus public discourse on vaccine efficacy: “It is wrong. Most international studies show that all serums now approved in Europe: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, which applied for approval, do their job. The percentage of those who once vaccinated, end up in hospital, in serious condition or even dying from infection, is extremely low. “
“It’s a matter of perspective: if you ask if in a general population the two vaccines, one with a clinical trial efficacy of 60% and another of 90%, will behave the same, if this difference will be maintained in the population In general, no one can give you the answer. There are many factors that matter: the speed with which you get vaccinated, the number of people immunized, the movement of people, restrictive measures“, explains Prof. Dr. Radu Iliescu.
A regular flu vaccine is 40% effective
Strictly speaking, the effectiveness of the flu vaccine is 40 to 60 percent, depending on the flu strains circulating each year, according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the public health institute. from the USA.
But the purpose of the vaccine is not to prevent infection with the flu virus, but to help the immune system counteract it so as to avoid serious forms that require hospitalization, or even deaths from the flu.
The explanation is also valid in the case of vaccines against COVID-19: for society to reopen, vaccination must stop or reduce the occurrence of serious cases, which would crowd hospitals, and deaths.
Currently, all three vaccines approved in Europe are very effective in clinical trials in preventing infections and severe forms, and new research shows that they are also effective in preventing those who become infected after vaccination from transmitting it. far away.
The fourth vaccine approved in Europe could be in mid-March, it is produced by the company Johnson & Johnson, needs a single dose and has proven effective against new strains.
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