Are you ready for the third jab?

As we enter 2022 and the virus continues to play its role in our lives, we will need different treatments and strategies. Both Merck and Pfizer have been making Covid drugs that will undoubtedly play a role in preventing serious illness.

The drug Pfizer is called Paxlovid and is a protease inhibitor and is given internally by antiviral ritonavir. Test results showed that its pill reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by 89% in COVID-19 high-risk patients who were given treatment within three days of starting symptoms and 85% when given within five days.

20% of patients who received the pill or placebo experienced adverse events, especially mild ones. Serious side effects were reported by 1.7% of patients receiving treatment and 6.6% of placebo patients. The first drug to get FDA approval this week.

The Merck drug is named Lavgevrio and is a nucleoside analogue. Studies have shown that it reduces the risk of hospitalization or death by about 50% of high-risk patients who are given treatment within five days. 12% of patients receiving their medication and 11% of placebo patients experienced serious drug-related complications.

Both medicines will be given for five days. Pfizer program three pills in the morning and three pills at night. Merck medicine is taken as four pills in the morning and four at night. Costs are $ 530 for Pfizer and $ 700 for Merck per lesson.

All of this is good news for Covid treatment.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the introduction of booster doses for Covid-19 vaccines should be “driven by strong evidence” and targeted at high risk groups for serious illnesses and key personnel. He said the evidence so far “shows” a slight “to moderate” reduction in vaccination against severe infections within six months after the second dose.

What is this evidence?

On December 7, the WHO Vocational Experts Group on Vaccination Experts conducted a systematic review of 18 studies on the effectiveness of the vaccine, conducted in various countries (excluding India) between June 17 and December 2. Vaccines tested by Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca (used in India as Covishield), and Johnson & Johnson.

The review estimated the median change in vaccine performance (VE) from 1–6 months after full vaccination. With symptomatic disease, VE decreases by 32% in adults (over 50) and 25.4% in all ages. In severe cases, it has dropped by 9.7% in adults, and 8% in all ages. The review summarizes:

Decreased median VE after 6 months of infection and any symptomatic disease

⦿ A slight decrease in VE over time against a serious illness

Ongoing VE follow-up after 6 months is required, along with additional vaccines

⦿ The effect of Omicron on diminished VE is unknown

Are these standards good news or bad news?

“We need to see how many diseases there are that are considered serious. Because if it is mild to moderate, it is not a cause for concern. ” He added: “Because India also has young comorbidities, I would also like to look at data at 45–55 plus and the level of difficulty.”

How fast should India start booster doses?

Referring to a WHO statement, VK Paul, head of the Covid-19 national team, said: “… This [decision in India] should be motivated by science that works in our context, driven by science that works our goals. What you learn most about other vaccines of different platforms, as well as different comorbidities profiles, and age profiles in certain ways, “he said.

Provinces such as Maharashtra, Kerala and Delhi have repeatedly called on the Institute to initiate incentives. The same is true of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and many other health professionals.

“We are saddened by the delay. The UK and other countries are taking a third dose of vaccine. We are told that there is a need for proof of deleting booster doses. We know for sure that there are warning signs and the government should take action, ”said IMA president Dr J A Jayalal.

Dr Subhash Salunkhe, a member of the Covid team, said booster doses could start or be given basic doses. “This is not the case and / or the situation. It should be done simultaneously. Those who need a second dose are very important but a third dose is also needed, especially for people who are not physically fit and health workers. ”

What factors do experts consider?

The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) examines data from around the world and in India in three areas: T-cell response, antibody response with one vaccine and one vaccine, and how long the immune system lasts after an infection, the official said. -Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Dr. Balram Bhargava.

Sources said the ICMR’s real-time track record shows that infectious diseases are less than 2% of the total population, and about 7% among doctors and nurses.

Sources said there was a detailed discussion of the extra capacity that focused on cell phone protection in memory cells, which played a key role in providing protection against serious illness and hospitalization.

Most Indian adults got their first dose just before the second wave, and the second dose, most adults got it after the second wave. Most have already received ‘extra capacity’ about “antibody. response from the April-May Delta surgery. How this affects them is scientifically tested,” the source said.

What vaccines can be used as supplements in India?

When NTAGI examined scientific evidence, an initial agreement was reached: if a person has taken an uninfected virus (eg Covaxin) or adenoviral vector vaccine (eg Covishield vaccine or AstraZeneca vaccine), the third dose should not be of the same platform. .

Preliminary research from outside India suggests that the third dose of AstraZeneca vaccine is effective compared to the Omicron variant. Emerging data will also be checked.

If also recommended, eligible recipients may have more options in the coming months, such as:

⦿ Hyderabad-based Biological-E’s Corbevax, a protein subunit vaccine containing only the antigenic components of the virus

⦿Serum Institute of India’s (SII) Covovax, a recombinant nanoparticle protein-based vaccine, for which US-based Novavax and SII have already received emergency use authorisation in the Philippines

⦿ Bharat Biotech’s intranasal vaccine which, sources said, is expected to come in the second half of January.

⦿ India’s first m-RNA Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pune-based Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd which, the government has said, is expected to produce 6 crore doses.

Amid allegations that the Omicron wave has exceeded its “high standard” in the country, South Africa has announced a major overhaul of its citizens, eliminating the need for people who are confirmed to be HIV-positive.

In a new directive released on Thursday, the South African government said the need for exclusion was excluded from both the vaccine and the non-vaccinated. The contact will not need to be re-tested, unless they show symptoms. The country also stopped tracking social media, except for meeting settings and group outbreaks.

But the country began providing incentives to its citizens for the first time on Friday. The United States has announced the resumption of a round-trip to southern Africa, which was banned following the emergence of the Omicron diversity.

Earlier, scientists at the National Institute of Communicable Diseases in South Africa said there were indications that “the number of infected people in Gauteng (the province where Omicron was first diagnosed and widespread) has passed,” reports CNN. The center noted a drop in crime in all provinces. On Friday, it reported 18,847 new cases of coronavirus, less than 20,000 reported in recent days.

24 deaths and 300 hospitalizations so far due to omicron. Hospitals aren’t overwhelmed yet but it has been a busy winter already. Biggest challenge is staff absence due to Covid. 19 000 off sick on 19th December equal to 5% of workforce. 81880 beds occupied out of 89 991 in NHS.