The Ômicron variant of the new coronavirus was identified in November 2021. Since then, it has become the predominant strain of the virus in the world due to its high transmissibility capacity.
In Brazil, the strain has caused a significant increase in cases in recent weeks. In an interview with CNNthe president of the Brazilian Society of Immunizations (SBIm), Juarez Cunha, stated that the booster dose is essential to combat the Ômicron variant.
“For Ômicron, because it is a variant that has many mutations, we need to improve that person’s response and this happens through this booster dose”, he said.
According to Cunha, epidemiological data show that most people infected by Ômicron who progress to more severe clinical conditions were not vaccinated. In addition, according to him, the country may not have reached the peak of cases caused by the variant.
“Our epidemiology also allows for this weekly assessment of how hospitalizations and deaths of fully vaccinated, unvaccinated and partially vaccinated people are behaving. And further encourage the scheme to be completed,” she said.
For the specialist, there is still no robust scientific evidence to define the application of the fourth dose of vaccines against Covid-19 in the general public.
“We need to have more scientific evidence, both in terms of efficacy and safety, for a fourth dose or a second booster. Remembering that here we are talking about immunocompetent people. For the immunocompromised, it is already well defined. Vaccination for adolescents has already been expanded, including these differentiated regimens for the immunocompromised,” she said.
*under the supervision of Elis Franco
Source: CNN Brasil
