Public Health Minister Daniel Rivera said the Dominican government has contemplated a third dose of vaccine to complete the immunity of the population regarding the Covid-19 virus and its new variants. He said all the suppliers of vaccines are talking about the need for the third dose.
As the DR advances towards herd immunity; there is the concern whether the two doses of Sinovac vaccine that most of the population is receiving will be enough to hold back the new variants.
Eyes around the world are on the efficacy of the Sinovac/Coronavac on the new Delta variant that started in India. The variant is the most aggressive so far. Countries such as Indonesia that have relied heavily on the Chinese Sinovac vaccines are concerned the Chinese jab may not be enough. People in the Dominican Republic are following steps to be taken as the Delta variant spreads in the United States from where most travelers to the country come from. There are no restrictions for traveling here from the United States.
Likewise, 93% of the 11 million vaccines that have been received here are of the Sinovac or Sinopharm companies.
The Dominican government has invested heavily to secure the Sinovac vaccines after AstraZeneca and Pfizer timely deliveries fell through. So far, Pfizer has delivered 436,410 doses; AstraZeneca 62,000 and Sinovac/Sinopharm has delivered 10,818,000 doses. The largest batch yet to arrive was 3 million doses from Sinovac this 22 June 2021. President Luis Abinader said on 23 June that shipments for seven million doses will arrive in July. Pfizer is expected to deliver batches of 200,000+ every Friday of the 10 million contracted with the pharmaceutical.
There are concerns around the world that China’s Sinovac vaccine is not as effective as others against the Delta variant. Countries with large percentages of their population vaccinated with Sinovac – Uruguay, Mongolia, Seychelles and Indonesia are reporting large numbers of cases among those who have received the vaccination.
Meanwhile, Yin Weidong, CEO of Sinovac said recently on China’s TV that a third shot of his company’s vaccine produces a tenfold increase in antibodies within a week. But the Chinese vaccine manufacturers are not yet recommending a third dose.
Meanwhile, as the Delta variant begins to spread in the United States, the Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen vaccines will also be put to test. In England, The Guardian reports that the Delta variant now accounts for 90% of the new Covid cases in the UK. This has resulted in the postponing of the lockdown easing in England from 21 June to a possible date of 19 July amid concerns of a substantial wave of hospitalizations due to the Delta variant of Covid. A British study published in the Lancet medical journal in June found that antibody levels in people with two doses of the Pfizer shot were six times lower in the presence of the Delta variant than in the presence of the original Covid-19 strain on which the vaccine was based.
Scientists nevertheless concur that increasing the proportion of the population that is immunized with the authorized vaccines is a key strategy to minimize the emergence of new variants and end the pandemic. Thus the importance of the country continuing with its efforts to vaccinate upwards of 60% of the population by August
There are local reports of persons who have been fully vaccinated with Sinovac that have fallen sick or even having died. Local meds advise that persons check their antibodies immunity. Likewise, he urges that when in company of those known to have the disease or when experiencing symptoms, the person should see a doctor to check on whether to resort to prophylactic treatments such ivermectin to reduce the virulence of the disease.
Read more:
Hindustan Times
South China Morning Post
Listin Diario
Forbes
New York Times
New York Times
New York Times
The Guardian
Live Mint
N Digital
El Nuevo Diario
23 June 2021