The European Medicine Agency (EMA) stressed this Thursday that it has not yet concluded its evaluation of data on the reinforcement dose of VACCINES of the COVID-19, although it supported the option of providing an "additional" as "precautionary measurement "To elderly and immunosuppressed people.
The EMA mentions the technical report issued yesterday by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), which points out that "according to the current evidence, there is no urgent need to administer vaccine reinforcement doses to individuals with full guidelines In the general population, "although" additional doses "should be injected to people with severely weakened immunological systems.
The agency recalls that "it is important to distinguish" between the "reinforcement doses", intended for people with normal immunological systems, and the "additional doses" for immunosuppressed individuals, such as the recipients of organ transplants, which have shown an initial immune response The vaccines that were insufficient to protect them against COVID-19 and a new injection could improve that reaction. "In such cases, the option of administering an additional dose must already be considered," supports EMA.
"You could also consider the possibility of providing one, as a precautionary measure, elderly and fragile people, particularly those living in closed environments, such as residents of long-term care centers," the European Agency.
The EMA informs that "data on additional doses is currently evaluating and will consider whether the product information updates are appropriate" or if, against, it is necessary to include precisions in the vaccine prospectus, in the same way that it will continue to study The information available, which includes data from vaccination campaigns, pharmaceutical reports and other studies on the need for a reinforcement dose.
The Agency adds that, despite the fact that the data available on the authorized vaccines in the European Union (EU) show that they are "highly protective against hospitalization, serious diseases and deaths" related to the COVID-19, still "one of one of Every three adults over 18 in the EU does not have the full guideline. "
"In this situation, the priority should now be vaccinated all those eligible people who have not yet completed their recommended vaccination cycle," urges EMA.
The agency highlights as "fundamental" to continue applying measures such as physical distancing in society, hygiene of hands and, the use of masks when necessary, particularly in high-risk environments, such as long-term care centers o Hospital halls with patients at risk of severe COVID-19.
Despite not yet having a clear conclusion on the third dose in the general population, EMA recalls that Member States "may consider preparatory plans" to administer reinforcement doses and additional.
"Member States should prepare themselves for possible adaptations of their vaccination programs in case a substantial decrease in vaccine effectiveness is observed in one or more population groups," he said.
In addition, it remarked that the groups of national technical advisers who guide vaccination campaigns in each country continue to have the prerogative to recommend how vaccines should be administered in their respective states.
Date Of Update: 05 September 2021, 00:36
