Pfizer’s immunization drug begins rolling out across Brazil this Monday. Only those who already have the booster can take it. Find out why the monovalent version continues to be applied. This Monday (27/02) the bivalent vaccine against covid-19 begins to be applied throughout the national territory. The Ministry of Health has divided the campaign into phases, with risk groups being the first to receive it. See what it is and who can get the immuniser.
What is bivalent
According to the Ministry of Health, the immunizer improves immunity against the original virus strain and also against the globally prevalent omicron variant and its subvariants (BA.1, BA.4 and BA.5), having a profile of safety and efficacy similar to that of monovalent vaccines.
The omicron variant is more transmissible, but milder, with the virus concentrating in the throat and not reaching the lungs.
In Brazil, two bivalent vaccines, both produced by the Pfizer laboratory, have received authorization from the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) for emergency use.
The groups at risk are the first to receive
Initially, the vaccine will be applied to risk groups, before being opened up to other groups. According to the division announced by the ministry, immunization will be carried out in phase 1 in people over the age of 70, immunocompromised, indigenous, riparian and quilombola; in stage 2, people aged 60 to 69; in stage 3, pregnant and new-born women; and in phase 4, healthcare workers.
Application only after monovalent
To take the bivalent vaccine, it is necessary to have taken at least two doses of the primary scheme, with the monovalent vaccine, applied throughout the national territory since 2021. Furthermore, the last dose must have been applied at least four months ago.
For those who have already taken a booster
According to the director of the Brazilian Society of Immunizations, Juarez Cunha, the bivalent immunizer is the best answer to combat the covid-19 variants circulating in the country and in the world. However, you specify that to take it you must already have the first two doses of the monovalent vaccine.
“Who is the bivalent recommended? Only as a booster. For people who have been fully vaccinated with the primary scheme, which, in general, are two doses or a single dose. Also for those who have already had the third and fourth dose , two boosters,” said Juarez Cunha, in an interview with Rádio Nacional, released by Agência Brasil. “These people who already have this vaccination, as long as four months have passed since the last dose, can receive the bivalent”.
Monovalents remain effective and available
The Ministry of Health reiterates that monovalent vaccines against covid-19 remain available in primary health units (UBS) for the general population and are classified as “highly effective against the disease”, ensuring a high degree of immunity and avoiding mild cases , serious. cases and deaths from disease.
“The application of the bivalent does not mean that the monovalent vaccines do not continue to protect. They continue to protect, even for the omicron variant, but, obviously, having the possibility of a vaccine studied more specifically for the circulating variant, the trend is for us have a better answer,” explained Juarez Cunha.
“The monovalent vaccine, as the name implies, has only one type of virus that causes covid. It was originally designed with that so-called ancestral virus, the first to appear in China at the end of 2019. So, all the vaccines that people have had and used until now have been monovalent, regardless of the manufacturing laboratory,” highlighted the expert.
The Ministry of Health also wants to intensify the campaign with the monovalent vaccine, not only among the priority groups but also among the over 12s, with a view to increasing vaccination coverage.
Covid-19 continues the global health emergency
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared on January 30 that covid-19 remains a health emergency of international concern, because it remains a “dangerous infectious disease” that can cause considerable damage to human health and the health systems of countries .
md/bl (EBC, EFE, ots)
Source: Terra
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