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“The mask can be used as a vaccine in some way, because if someone receives a small dose of coronavirus, their body is more likely to fight it. The disease will be less painful. The mask not only reduces transmission, but also the amount of viral load “. This is the conclusion reached by the professor of Informatics in the field of genomic and molecular medicine at MIT, Manolis Kellis, noting that the use of the mask will determine whether there will be another blockade in February or March.
As for the current blockade, he believes that if the measures are followed, in two or two and a half weeks we will have a much better image, up to zero cases. Mr. Kellis talks about Pfizer’s experimental vaccine, as well as the other vaccines that are in the final stages of testing and whose results are expected in the coming weeks.
Stay home and wear masks when we come out of the lockdown. You are listening to the principles. You listen to the scientists. We are very lucky in Greece to have a government that works with scientists. React quickly and forcefully. “We as citizens must support it as much as we can,” said the MIT professor.
The full text of the interview granted by Professor Manolis Kellis to the Fm Agency and to Tania H. Mantouvalos’ program “104.9 SECRETOS DE LA SALUD” is presented below.
Q: I would like your first comment on the Pfizer vaccine that brought an air of optimism around the world.
A: The news is very positive and the whole planet has based their hopes on this vaccine. This is new technology that has not been reused, and for the first time, we know that it can really work. But there are issues such as maintenance at -80 degrees, which is not possible in pharmacies or clinics. This vaccine can only be refrigerated for five minutes. Then there will be some difficulty in its distribution. On how to find these coolers, first. They are special refrigerators that states must order from special companies. And maybe these refrigerators need to be made. However, the cost will be much lower than all other measures taken during the pandemic. Also, another problem is that you need two doses a month apart. And this means that there may be non-compliance on the part of citizens, but also accounting for the hospital or the vaccination center itself to raise some questions.
Q: What else do we expect in terms of vaccinations in the coming weeks?
A: Moderna, which is based on the same technology as Pfizer, is expecting its results in the coming weeks and may be the next to make announcements. Johnson & Johnson has a vaccine that will need a dose. The tests were stopped on October 12, because there was a problem with a volunteer, but 11 days later they continued and until the end of the year we are waiting for results. As well as Novavax, but also AstraZeneca with the University of Oxford, which seems to be working very well.
Q: When do you see the general population being vaccinated?
A: Europe has already bought too many doses and I think it should first distribute the vaccines to the countries that need them the most. And Greece will obviously be in them. In our hands I see that the vaccines arrive in a few months, around April. We will not get vaccinated tomorrow.
Q: Mutations of the virus are an issue that worries the scientific community. We learn that so far most do not affect vaccine development. However, the mutated strain found in mink in Denmark, where 214 people have been infected since June, seems alarming, and the government has decided to kill all farmed minks, or 17 million animals. Here the Ministry of Rural Development made a similar decision for mink reared in a unit in Kozani.
A: We don’t yet know if these new mutations will dramatically affect humans or vaccine development. There was a laboratory test where one of these mutations was shown to reduce the response of the vaccine to antibodies. But this has not yet been demonstrated to man.
Q: How do you see the evolution of the epidemic before Christmas in Greece?
Unfortunately, worse. Unless the measures are respected. Each subsequent wave is more painful and the reason for this is that there are more and more breakouts. In other words, more people get sick. I think what we all have to do is wear the masks because if we don’t wear them, we are locked in again. I think that what the authorities are doing at the moment in Greece is very good, as the cases and deaths have increased significantly. If deaths hadn’t increased, we may not need to close. And certainly if we were wearing our masks, there would be no blockage right now. So the message is: stay home and wear masks when we get out of lockdown. You are listening to the Authorities. You listen to the scientists. We are very lucky in Greece to have a government that works with scientists. React quickly and forcefully. We, as citizens, must support it as much as we can.
Q: There have been many studies in recent months on “mask everywhere” and how much does it help to reduce transmissibility?
A: There are many reasons why we should wear a mask. The first is that it reduces the viral load. But even if this viral load penetrates the mask and someone is infected, the illness will be less painful. Because it all depends on how many molecules of the virus enter a person’s body. The mask can be used as a vaccine in some way, because if someone receives a small dose of coronavirus, their body is more likely to fight it. So if a higher dose is given again, the body will be ready to fight the virus. Therefore, it reduces not only transmission, but also the amount of viral load.
Q: You said that the epidemic would develop at hand. Do you want to be more specific? When do you think we’ll see the light?
A: As long as we do not “close” all countries, and as long as we do not wear masks, the situation worsens. I mean, the first wave was kind of small. The second largest. In the United States we are already in the third wave, which is huge. In Greece, everything will depend on how much the measures are observed. If this is achieved, in two, two and a half weeks we will have a much better image. Perhaps the cases will be reset.
Q: Is something like this possible in such a short time?
A: These three thousand and more cases (ss 3,038 according to yesterday’s information) if they are not transmitted, the virus dies. It cannot live inside a person for long. Either it is fought by the body, or this person becomes ill, dies, or abandons the transmission cycle. So if we can stop this person-to-person transmission, the virus has no other way to survive. By stopping transmission, we kill the virus.
Q: Do you think we are going to close?
A: Depending on how we use the masks. If we reduce transmission, it may be the last, before the vaccine arrives. If we don’t wear masks after the current lockdown, I’m afraid there will be more, maybe in February or March.
Q: When do you say “throw away” the masks as humanity?
A: When the vaccine will be available, but especially when 60% of the population has transmitted the virus or has been vaccinated.
Source: skai.gr
