The MSP evaluates giving anti-covid booster vaccines to the population at risk this year

2023-08-04 16:33:14

Photo: Twitter / MSP Uruguay

He SARS-CoV-2also known as coronavirus, is responsible for the disease COVID-19, the global pandemic we’ve been talking about for almost three years. This virus belongs to the family of coronavirus and is transmitted mainly through respiratory droplets that an infected person releases when talking, coughing, or sneezing.

In the long term, SARS-CoV-2 can have devastating effects on the body. It has been observed that some people who have overcome the infection suffer from “Prolonged COVID” or “post-COVID syndrome”with persistent and debilitating symptoms including chronic fatigue, breathing difficulties, heart problems, brain fog and muscle aches.

Fortunately, COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be a highly effective tool in combating the spread of the virus and reducing the severity of the disease. These vaccines teach the immune system to recognize and fight the virus, which decreases the risk of infection and prevents the development of serious symptoms in case of contagion. The effectiveness proved to be high and the Uruguayan Ministry of Public Health (MSP) is evaluating how to continue with vaccination, especially in populations at risk.

Booster vaccines are coming

Unlike the flu, it is difficult to determine with certainty the seasonality of the virus in this region of the world. It is not known when an outbreak could emerge, posing a challenge to protect different groups. As pointed out by Mirazo, it is an “endemic” virus, which implies that cases can occur throughout the year.

In particular, for the elderly, those with weakened immune systems, cancer patients and diabetics, it may be necessary to administer an additional vaccine periodically to generate an adequate response against the virus.

Uruguay has focused its latest campaign against COVID-19 on this population since last December due to the increase in cases. Until March of this year, more than 265,000 people have been vaccinated, a very positive figure according to the authorities.

Uruguay would have enough doses stored to cover vaccination campaigns for populations at risk until 2024, and there are no concerns about its potential expiration.

Vaccines are available free of charge for different groups, starting from the age of five and up.

Although it is still debated what type of dose to administer, to which groups and how often, it is important to note that in Uruguay, most respiratory infections are not caused by COVID-19, but by influenza B, influenza A and RSV.