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According to Dr. Marco Cavaleri, Head of EEA Strategy for Vaccines and Biological Health Hazards, it has been decided that booster doses of Comirnaty (manufactured by Pfizer) and Spikevax (manufactured by Moderna) can be administered to people of 12 years or more. that the immune system is very weak.
At least 20 days should have passed since the second dose.
This recommendation is based on studies in patients with a weakened immune system due to the use of immunosuppressive drugs or after organ transplantation. Currently, EVA is not recommended for all other individuals as there is insufficient evidence to support this.
Clinical studies with Comirnaty have shown that patients who do not develop immunity after the second dose of the coronavirus vaccine can develop a booster dose.
Similar studies with Spikevax showed that patients who received a third dose of the vaccine had higher levels of antibodies after transplantation than those who received only two doses.
Since there is still limited data on the benefits of the third dose in other groups, it is recommended that the booster dose be limited to those with severely compromised immune systems.
“So far, there is no clear evidence that immunosuppressed patients benefit from the booster dose after primary vaccination,” said Dr. Cavaleri.
Since there is still limited data on the benefits of the third dose in other groups, it is recommended that the booster dose be limited to those with severely compromised immune systems.
“So far, there is no clear evidence that immunosuppressed patients benefit from the booster dose after primary vaccination,” said Dr. Cavaleri.
The doctor added: “Although there is no direct evidence yet on the effectiveness of the third dose, this dose is expected to increase protection in at least some of these patients.”
The EVA will continue to monitor data on the efficacy of the third dose in this group of patients.
According to the specialist, it is important to distinguish between two things: the need for a third dose for people with severely weakened immune systems and the administration of a booster dose to the general population.
The manufacturers of Comirnaty have made a statement to add recommendations for the third dose to the package insert.
The statement was based on a study in which the third dose was given to people ages 18 to 55, at least half a year after the second.
It was considered safe to vaccinate people aged 18 to 55 with a booster dose six months after the second dose. This dose significantly increases the amount of antibodies compared to that seen with the second dose. This can be taken into account in the future. However, no direct recommendations can yet be made on when and to whom this dose can be administered.
“This decision should be based on available vaccine efficacy and epidemiological data,” Cavaleri said.
It will be added.
In Lithuania, the third dose has already been started for the most vulnerable people: people who for certain reasons – illness or immunosuppressive treatment – have not developed immunity, hospital volunteers, pharmacists, medical personnel and people over 65 years of age.
In early August, Lithuania was one of the first countries in the European Union to begin vaccinating people who have undergone organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplants with a third booster dose of the vaccine, as well as those patients with blood diseases receiving or completing treatment. for blood diseases or complications 24 months ago or actively monitored for blood diseases. The third dose was also administered to patients with end-stage chronic kidney disease on continuous renal replacement therapy (hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis).
After the third dose, the information will be generated in the Opportunity Passport and the EU Digital COVID certificate, and their validity conditions will not change.
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