In Panama more than 4,000 third doses of the anticovid vaccine have been applied
In Panama, the third dose of the anticovid vaccine is being applied to immunisuppressed patients, that is, people with altered immune responses.
According to the latest report issued by the Expanded Program on Immunization (PAI) in Panama, 4,327 third doses of the vaccine against covid-19 have been applied .
In Panama, the third dose is being applied to immunisuppressed patients, that is, patients with diseases such as cancer, who have received organ transplants and are taking immunosuppressive drugs, and patients with advanced or untreated HIV infection.
"Third dose and booster are different"
Dr. Eduardo Ortega, secretary of the National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (Senacyt), explained that the concept of the third dose and booster are different.
Ortega indicated that the third dose of the vaccine against covid-19 is applied to people who have an alteration in their immune response 28 days after the second dose.
While the booster dose is applied six months after the second dose to raise the immune response.
He said that the Ministry of Health (Minsa) has been recommended to apply a booster dose with the Pfizer formula to people regardless of the vaccine they have received for their two-dose schedule.
That is, people in Panama who were vaccinated with AstraZeneca's covid-19 vaccine would receive a third dose of Pfizer. Ortega said that this recommendation was made based on studies conducted in the United Kingdom, Spain, and Germany.
“There are published data from Spain, Germany and there are published data from England from scientific research indicating that when they combined these vaccines first AstraZeneca and then the Pfizer vaccine the vaccine was safe, the observed side effects were the same and there was a robust immune response,” mentioned Ortega.
He highlighted that in Panama the booster dose is being recommended to people over 55 years of age who have already completed two doses of the vaccine for 6 months, to people between 18 and 54 years of age who have a chronic disease and to people who work for work. perform (health personnel and teachers).
"The recommendation is from the sixth month and we are going to start with those people that we vaccinate in January and February," he said.
In Panama, the third dose is being applied to immunisuppressed patients, that is, patients with diseases such as cancer, who have received organ transplants and are taking immunosuppressive drugs, and patients with advanced or untreated HIV infection.
"Third dose and booster are different"
Dr. Eduardo Ortega, secretary of the National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (Senacyt), explained that the concept of the third dose and booster are different.
Ortega indicated that the third dose of the vaccine against covid-19 is applied to people who have an alteration in their immune response 28 days after the second dose.
While the booster dose is applied six months after the second dose to raise the immune response.
He said that the Ministry of Health (Minsa) has been recommended to apply a booster dose with the Pfizer formula to people regardless of the vaccine they have received for their two-dose schedule.
That is, people in Panama who were vaccinated with AstraZeneca's covid-19 vaccine would receive a third dose of Pfizer. Ortega said that this recommendation was made based on studies conducted in the United Kingdom, Spain, and Germany.
“There are published data from Spain, Germany and there are published data from England from scientific research indicating that when they combined these vaccines first AstraZeneca and then the Pfizer vaccine the vaccine was safe, the observed side effects were the same and there was a robust immune response,” mentioned Ortega.
He highlighted that in Panama the booster dose is being recommended to people over 55 years of age who have already completed two doses of the vaccine for 6 months, to people between 18 and 54 years of age who have a chronic disease and to people who work for work. perform (health personnel and teachers).
"The recommendation is from the sixth month and we are going to start with those people that we vaccinate in January and February," he said.