The deputy director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Jarbas Barbosa, said that “very likely” the vaccines will manage to act against the micron variant of the coronavirus.
In an interview with CNN Radio, he explained that the strain is considered by the organization as “of concern” especially due to the high number of mutations, but that “we still have questions to be answered”.
Laboratory studies are being conducted to demonstrate whether the antibodies to the immunizers act against the variant. “We will know between 2 and 4 weeks, until then, scientists think that most likely the vaccines will continue to work, there may be a small reduction in effectiveness depending on the immunizing agent.”
Jarbas reinforced that “vaccination, along with the use of masks, remains the best way to fight the virus.”
According to him, “flight restriction has not been effective to prevent the spread of variants, the delta, for example, which is now predominant worldwide, several have suspended flights, but it is very difficult, except for isolated countries, to make this one effective measure.”
Barbosa even advocated greater caution by all nations at this time. “It is very important that each country needs to strengthen surveillance, including genomics, to identify whether the variant is circulating.”
“Increasing vaccination is essential and maintaining protective measures, in some countries, the reduction of cases can generate a false feeling that the pandemic is over, and this is a mistake, as in Europe, which is experiencing a fourth wave that has nothing to do with with the new variant, if we let our guard down, it can happen”, he added.
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Reference: CNN Brasil
