The BA.5 variant, from the same lineage as Ômicron, “has shown the ability to escape even more the protection provided by the vaccine against Covid-19”, according to immunologist and researcher at USP, Gustavo Cabral de Miranda.
In an interview with CNN Radio he lamented that Brazil “missed the chance to bring the number of deaths to zero” because of the disease.
“When we lowered the rate to 100 deaths a day and we had the number of vaccinated people increasing, we were supposed to have lowered it, as happened in China.”
For this, he highlights that it would be necessary to maintain restrictions, such as the use of a mask and social distance, for longer.
“We have stopped with the vaccination of the booster dose, it has been weeks since the number has passed 53%, taking into account groups over 12 years old. In total we’ve been at 45% for weeks, that’s the big problem.”
The immunologist recalls that “the more we favor the circulation of the virus, the more we give the possibility for variants to emerge.”
At the same time, Gustavo Cabral celebrated Anvisa’s decision to allow the use of Coronavac in children aged 3 to 5 years.
“In addition to deaths, Covid can leave damage to many people, there is no escape that the best weapon is the vaccine, and children under 5 are the only unprotected group, it is very important to take this vaccination.”
According to the researcher, the trend is that vaccination for babies over 6 months, as happens in the United States, also occurs in Brazil, once Anvisa approves the application.
*With production by Isabel Campos
Source: CNN Brasil
