Amid the discussion about the 4th dose of the vaccine against Covid-19, the deputy director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Jarbas Barbosa, reinforced that the priority should be to complete the vaccine cycle of three doses.
THE CNN, he highlighted that the position of PAHO and the World Health Organization (WHO) is that it is still necessary to “better evaluate” the data on a fourth application. “Any recommendation must be based on studies that provide technical and scientific justification”.
However, Jarbas says that there is already “one or another” study that points to a decrease in protection after the third dose, but that “the priority is to complete the vaccination [com três doses]”.
“There is still a difference between the states, as in the case of Brazil, there are some advanced, others with 20% less vaccination coverage, this is a problem”, he evaluated.
Another point, according to Barbosa, is the need to advance in the immunization of children and adolescents, while the data on the need for a fourth dose are evaluated.
The deputy director of PAHO says that the wave of the Ômicron variant shows signs of reduction in countries in the Americas.
“The number of cases is starting to decrease, which is a good sign. The rate of deaths and severe cases remains important, because the disease usually starts with transmission, but the death numbers take a long time to appear”.
Even so, he sees a “situation of care” in most health systems, with “several countries with saturation” for care.
Source: CNN Brasil
