Filenews 18 May 2021 - by Despina Psyllaou
Confusion prevails over the administration of a third dose with a vaccine against Covid-19, as scientists and technocrats at European level examine the benefits and risks, at a time when the threat of the Indian mutation is increasing.
As the Deputy Director of Pharmaceutical Services of the Ministry of Health, Elena Panagiotopoulou, told "F", there is much that needs to be clarified in the possibility of an additional dose of vaccine. A new formulation may be created, he notes. For their part, epidemiologists treat vaccination as a shield against virus mutations, even Indian. In the meantime, the vaccination plan will be presented today by The Minister of Health Konstantinos Ioannou, while as announced the Vaccination Portal for older people opens again as a second chance to those who failed to arrange an appointment the first time.
In particular, the Deputy Director of Pharmaceutical Services of the Ministry of Health, Elena Panagiotopoulou, told "F" that consultations are taking place at European level, where an additional dose of vaccine is being considered. "Cyprus will follow the decisions and directives of the European Medicines Agency (EMA). We are not going to come up with a Cyprus plan." Besides, he said, there are many questions that need to be answered. "It needs to be clarified what kind of dose. Whether it will be from the vaccines offered or from another preparation'.
He also said that at this stage there is no evidence to recommend the combination of vaccines from different companies. The same applies in the case of AstraZeneca, where vaccines with which the company will feed the EU will gradually be reduced. "AstraZeneca will continue vaccinations until 2021. Then it will be interrupted. But there is no problem, as it is possible that the additional dose is from another vaccine. It is not only Cyprus that has used AstraZeneca, it is other countries that will face a similar issue. We will continue the tactics applied abroad to have some real data in front of us. Cyprus is too small to have its own plan."
Vaccination of adolescents and children, he said, will be examined by the European Drug Orphanage. "There is currently no decision on this." Moreover, he noted, the provision of a second chance for those who have passed their age and who wish to make an appointment for vaccination begins. Regarding the serious undesirable side effects of vaccines, such as thrombosis, Mrs Panagiotopoulou noted that if they do not occur during the administration of the first dose of the vaccine, "then at the time of administration of the second dose there is an even lower chance of them occurring".
For her part, infectious disease and member of the Advisory Epidemiological Committee, Maria Koliou told "F" that the third dose is already planned by European states to be given to their citizens. 'The rationale behind this action is: (a) that the immunity offered by the two doses of vaccine weakens, and (b) the occurrence of virus mutations, which is not predictable. In fact, we have also had an announcement that the Indian strain is in England and is likely to prevail. In such a scenario it is possible that a third dose will be needed. Looks like the vaccines in circulation partially cover the mutations. But you might need a better cover."
Regarding the combination of vaccines, he said it is chosen only if a person has very serious side effects from the first dose of the formulation. "Only in this case is the mixing of vaccines discussed." However, he said, because the third dose will be administered some time later than the first two, the first formulation probably won't play such a big role. "However, in a research publication I read that mixing vaccines does not seem to harm, except for the fact that it increases side effects when the second dose is with another company."
He also said that if vaccination is eventually needed with a third dose, then it will be done on the basis of the vaccination planning and pre-promotion that had been promoted. That's from the older to the younger. Also with priority to health professionals and vulnerable groups of the population. "Those who were vaccinated first, I believe they will be vaccinated again first. In addition, the period of time the vaccine has been administered shall be removed'.
Loizidou: "The survivors have no personal data"
"Legal persons and the victims have no personal data," Privacy Commissioner Irene Loizidou made clear to Alpha, clarifying that for another reason the Ministry of Health stopped reporting whether the victims of the pandemic had underlying diseases or had been vaccinated.
Regarding the control of SafePass in schools, Ms. Loizidou said that for students the responsibility lies with the chairman of the Safety and Health Committee of the school unit concerned. In addition, he said, teachers are responsible for the school's management, which authorizes an assistant principal to carry out the checks.
Karagiannis: Need for vaccination coverage up to 85%
Concerns about the introduction of the mutant Indian strain from the United Kingdom to Cyprus through tourism, expressed by the member of the Advisory Scientific Committee, Professor of Microbiology/Molecular Iology of the Medical School of the University of Nicosia Dr. Petros Karagiannis. As he notes, as a precaution against this strain, vaccination coverage of the population should reach 80%-85% based on the recommendations of British scientists.
In particular, he said the Indian strain is 50% more contagious, which worries scientists, which is why they are accelerating vaccination with the second dose of AstraZeneca to shield several citizens of the country. "I believe that at the moment this strain has not been widely transmitted but there is a fear that it will prevail as long as it is easily transmitted. That's why they're also trying with vaccination coverage to stop it because it seems to be being treated by vaccines. But we may need to further increase vaccination coverage from 65% to 70% and maybe we should go up to 80% to 85%," he noted.
Consent from both parents
FOR CHILDREN'S VACCINATION
Recommendation for children by the Commissioner for Legislation to the Minister for Children Health
A recommendation to require the consent of both parents to vaccinate their child was sent by Law Commissioner Louisa Zannetou to the Minister of Health. Her concern, she noted in "F", also lies in technical issues around the vaccination of a minor, such as arranging an appointment at the Vaccination Gate as well as issues of consent of both parents. Moreover, he noted, he is of the opinion that there should be a joint agreement. With this in mind, it urges the Ministry of Health, if the vaccination programme goes ahead and for minors, to ensure that an information campaign for parents is launched.
As he said, about 25% of the population does not intend to be vaccinated. "This population is very likely to have a child. One can reasonably imagine that this person will not even agree to the vaccination of his child. I think it is necessary to consider what will happen if both parents have the opposite position around vaccinating their child. In Cyprus vaccination is not compulsory, so consent is needed."
Moreover, he said, it is necessary to consider whether it is possible, in the event of disagreement, to promote the resolution process that currently exists, namely to examine the matter in court. "It has to be regulated. In my view, such an issue is not considered to be a routine exercise of custody or urgency, such as the transport of the child to the hospital after an accident. Therefore, I believe that under the circumstances that exist, vaccination should be carried out with the express consent of both parents," he said, adding: "It is well known that parental responsibility and diligence extend to vaccination issues."
He also said that it is important, especially in adolescents, to regulate whether there is a disagreement between the child who has the maturity to take a position on the subject and the parents. "A 16-year-old child may wish to be vaccinated and parents may disagree."
