Written in NATIONAL on December 29, 2023 · 10:20 a.m
The infectologist Alejandro Macias assures in “Por la Mañana” that an r is expectedIncrease in COVID-19 cases towards the beginning of 2024 in Mexico due to the arrival of the “Pirola” variant.It is therefore important to get vaccinated. They are available in the country three Vaccines: Sputnik, Abdala and Pfizer, But Which is more effective against the new mutation? We'll explain it to you.
The doctor explained that there is evidence that Pfizer is effective against the current variants and therefore recommends purchasing it if you have the budget to pay for it at pharmacies, the Red Cross or Walmart.
This is because the biological vaccine has a “closer genetic distance” than the ancestral vaccines made from the original virus from Wuhan, China, where the COVID-19 pandemic began.
“It's no surprise, we do this every year with flu vaccines, where we never get to the virus, because when you give the vaccine the virus has already mutated, but you get one that looks like the newer viruses,” he said.
Likewise, he noted that while priority should be given to at-risk groups such as older adults, pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses, he suggested that people who have the budget to pay for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine buy it, because he protects them.
So Sputnik and Abdala are not effective against the “Pirola” variant?
If you don't have the budget to purchase a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, Dr. Alejandro Macías the use of Sputnik or Abdala, which are free and available in centers and hospitals of the public health system.
These vaccines are safe, millions of people in Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua and even Mexico have used them. There is no evidence that they are not effective, said the infectious disease expert. Their “original sin” is that they were produced without proper documentation, which is why they were not recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The specialist mentioned that if it concerns the vaccines to which you have access, you should get one of these vaccines because it is important to be protected against the arrival of the “Pirola” variant in Mexico.
In this regard, he explained that an increase in COVID-19 infections should be expected because it is easily transmissible, although it is not serious and will most likely “make many of us sick.”