The WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization issued its policy recommendations for the introduction of the first WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccine under the Emergency Use Protocol, the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine.
 |
| Pfizer-Biontech vaccine |
This article includes a summary of the initial recommendations, here is the most important thing you need to know in this regard.
According to the Strategic Experts Group, the mRNA-based Pfizer-Biontech vaccine against COVID-19 is a safe and effective vaccine. The priority is to vaccinate health workers at high risk of infection, followed by older adults, before immunizing the rest of the population.
What categories should be given priority for vaccination?
- Given the limited supplies of the vaccine, it is recommended that priority be given to health workers at high risk of infection and the elderly, including people 65 years of age or older.
- Countries can return to the road map on priority - setting organization and framework of values issued by the Organization for guidance in determining priorities with respect to the target groups.
What other groups can receive the vaccination?
The vaccine has been shown to be safe and effective in people with various conditions associated with an increased risk of severe disease.
This includes high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, pulmonary disease, liver and kidney disease, as well as stable and controlled chronic conditions.
More studies need to be done on the effects of the vaccine on immunocompromised people. The initial recommendation indicates that immunocompromised persons belonging to a recommended group can be vaccinated, but not before providing information and advice, when possible.
People living with HIV are at greater risk of developing severe disease from COVID-19. Clinical trials provide limited data on the safety of vaccines in people with HIV who are under good medical supervision. Those who receive vaccinations should be informed of the available data and advised in this regard, as much as possible.
The vaccination can be offered to people who have had COVID-19 infection in the past. However, due to the limited supply of the vaccine, these people may wish to defer vaccination for up to 6 months after they have contracted COVID-19.
No studies have been conducted on the use of the vaccine in lactating women, however, this vaccine does not use live viruses, and the messenger RNA does not enter the cell nucleus and is rapidly degraded, and therefore cannot interfere with cell functions.
If a breastfeeding woman belongs to a group that is recommended for vaccination (for example, health workers), she can be offered the vaccination. And does not recommend stopping breastfeeding after vaccination. More evidence is being sought to guide the development of WHO's policy recommendations in this regard.
Should pregnant women be vaccinated?
While pregnancy increases women's risk of severe illness from COVID-19, there is very little data available to assess the safety of vaccines during pregnancy.
Pregnant women can receive the vaccination if the benefits of vaccinating the pregnant woman outweigh the risks.
For this reason, pregnant women who are at high risk of infection with the Covid-19 virus (such as health workers) or who have comorbidities that increase their risk of severe disease can be vaccinated, provided that they consult with their health care provider in this regard.
What groups should not receive the vaccination?
The vaccine should not be given to people who have previously had a severe allergic (allergic) reaction to any component of the vaccine.
The vaccine has only been tested on children over 16 years of age. Therefore, WHO does not currently recommend vaccinating children under 16 years of age, even if they belong to a high-risk group.
What is the recommended dose?
The protective effect of the vaccine begins to form 12 days after receiving the first dose, but to gain full protection requires receiving two doses of the vaccine, and the organization recommends that the interval between the two doses ranges from 21 to 28 days. More research is needed to understand the potential long-term protection afforded by the vaccine after a single dose.
Is the vaccine safe?
WHO authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine under the Emergency Use Protocol on December 31, 2020. WHO has comprehensively evaluated the quality, safety and efficacy of the vaccine and recommended its use in people over 16 years of age.
The Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety, a group of experts that provides independent and authoritative guidance to WHO on the topic of the safe use of vaccines, receives and evaluates reports of suspected safety events that may have a potential international impact.
How effective is the vaccine?
The Pfizer-Biontech COVID-19 vaccine is 95% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 infection.
Is the vaccine effective against the new mutated strains?
The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts reviewed all available data on vaccine performance in tests aimed at evaluating the efficacy of the vaccine against a variety of mutated strains. These tests showed that the vaccine is effective against mutated strains of the virus.
The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts currently recommends the use of the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine according to the WHO roadmap for priority setting, even if mutated strains of the virus are circulating in a country. Countries should assess the risks and benefits, taking into account their epidemiological situations.
Preliminary results highlight the urgent need for a coordinated approach to surveillance and evaluation of mutated strains and their potential impact on vaccine efficacy. As soon as new data becomes available, WHO will update the recommendations accordingly.
Does the vaccine protect against infection and its transmission to others?
There are currently insufficient data available on the effect of the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine on transmission or transmission of viruses from the cell.
In the meantime, we must continue to apply and strengthen effective public health measures: mask wearing, physical distancing, hand washing, respiratory hygiene and etiquette for coughing and sneezing, avoiding crowds, and ensuring good ventilation.
What about other vaccines being developed to combat COVID-19?
WHO usually does not issue specific recommendations for vaccines, but rather one that includes all vaccines that target a specific disease, unless the evidence calls for a different approach.
Given the wide range of COVID-19 vaccines based on highly diverse core technologies, WHO is studying vaccines whenever they are licensed by highly qualified national regulatory authorities and vaccines with sufficient supplies to meet the needs of many countries.
WHO does not have a preference for a particular product, and considers that the availability of a variety of products, including a variety of specific characteristics and handling requirements, allows countries to find products best suited to their own circumstances.
It is expected that the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization will conduct a review of other vaccines in the coming months.