The application of vaccines against Covid-19 in the world decreases

2023-06-15 23:00:08

• In 1796 Dr. Edward Jenner designed the first immunization in history.
• The application of biologicals against various diseases helps prevent between two and three million deaths per year.
• Pfizer’s Comirnaty model made history by being the first of the Covid-19 vaccines to be applied in the world.

At the end of the darkness there is always light and hope. To face the biggest health crisis of the last century, there was an invention that was decisive. It is the development in record time of the vaccines against Covid-19. Thanks to its massive application throughout the planet, control of the disease was achieved and millions of deaths were avoided.

Vaccines and their impact to save lives

First of all it is necessary to go back a few centuries in the past. In 1796 the Dr. Edward Jenner applied the first inoculation in history and since then it has positioned itself as one of the most important tools in the world.

Over the years his invention has gained more relevance. At present alone it is estimated that immunizations prevent between two and three million deaths each year. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that if global coverage is improved then another 1.5 million fatal cases could be prevented.

For its part, the development of immunization implies millionaire investments and an average process of 10 years of research. Although to do the vaccines against covid-19 It was different thanks to various factors. Thanks to previous work and current technology, it was possible to have the first one ready in less than a year.

In this case Pfizer was the first to have ready Comirnaty. In December 2020, its application began in the United Kingdom and shortly after it was extended to the rest of the world. At first there was a lot of confusion and questions, but soon it was found to be safe and its side effects were minimal and temporary.

While after the American pharmaceutical came others that made their own versions. From Moderna, Sputnik V, Cansino, Sinovac, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson are just some of the list.

Now, based on an analysis of Our World In Data it can be seen that during 2021 the highest point was reached with respect to the application of immunizations against this new infection. At that time everything was new and it was even believed that the protection was for life.

The application of vaccines against Covid-19 in the world decreases

Based on the new evidence obtained, the need for booster doses was identified to prolong the generation of antibodies for each one. Each manufacturer published their own rules although they generally recommend between two and three additional immunizations.

While as of the second semester of 2022, a drastic decrease in the number of biologicals applied was reported. This change is closely related to the number of Covid-19 vaccines distributed globally.

The numbers show that new vaccines around the world have slowed to a trickle. While an average of up to 38 million doses per day was being administered by mid-2021, it had recently dropped to between 500,000 and one million doses per day.

Interestingly, booster shots have generally not overtaken initial protocol immunizations, instead falling far behind in 2023 after being the most common type of Covid-19 vaccination for a short time in mid-2022.

Booster doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been available in many developed countries, which is where most immunizations were generally given, and have continued to be recommended at least for older people. However, acceptance has been far from universal.

For example, while about 70% of the US population had received a full initial immunization against Covid-19 more recently, only about 17% had received a booster. The numbers were 94% and 43% for those over 65, respectively.

The number of Covid-19 booster vaccinations could increase once again if an annual vaccination against the disease is recommended. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted in January for such a regimen that would work similar to the annual flu shot and could begin administration this fall. More than one annual injection might still be recommended for elderly or immunosuppressed people.

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