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The virologist and researcher at the Pedro Simas Institute of Molecular Medicine said this Sunday that humanity is at the beginning of the end of the fight against the new coronavirus.
At a time when the complex vaccination operation against covid-19 has already started in the country, the expert explains that, “thanks to science and industry we have the beginning of the end, the solution.”
If vaccines were to prove 95% effective in the field in preventing serious diseases, that would be great and give us great peace of mind.“, underlines the researcher, explaining that it refers to the effectiveness in the control of damages in the respiratory system and not in the nose and pharynx, effects that are still being studied and that make the population continue to have to wear a mask.
Pedro Simas affirms that the application of the first dose of the vaccine already gives a protective immunity after ten days, but appeals to the population that does not need to receive the second dose.
Sometimes after taking the first dose, there are people who experience some fatigue, fever, and arm pain, and then they don’t want to take the second dose anymore. But they have to realize that the reactions are normal and mean the drug is working.“, Explain.
Simas also admits that the first vaccination phase is the most complex and difficult to carry out. All because there is a population group that needs to be identified and invited to be vaccinated.
The first phase is the most difficult to execute and includes 950,000 people, including health professionals, household groups and well-identified employees. But there is still a group of 400,000 people, the high-risk population with serious illnesses, who will need to be identified and contacted by the NHS.”Explains Pedro Simas, underlining that, if the plan is well executed, we could see“ a great improvement in March and April, with a great reduction in the number of hospitalized and dead ”.
The expert affirms that, at the end of the second phase and with an accumulated immunity percentage of 37%, Portugal is approaching “a very good number” and that allows a more concrete planning of the third phase.
Group immunity of 60-70% is no longer the target to be achieved. There is not as much urgency to get there if vaccines are shown to be effective on the ground, which exceeded our expectations.“.
Pedro Simas also launches a final call to the entire population to adhere to the vaccination against covid-19, asking that they “believe in the evidence of human history.” “This vaccine is even safer than the flu,” he concludes.
