AstraZeneca vaccine works against Brazilian variant – says CARPHA
– Local Ministry of Health Adviser advising Guyanese to take their injection once eligible
Advisor to the Ministry of Health and Former Minister for Health, Leslie Ramsammy
Kaieteur News – The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) announced on Saturday that it had received a report from the AstraZeneca Company based on a study conducted, which shows that their COVID-19 vaccine works against the Brazilian variant (P.1).
In his statement, he said “given the nature of the virus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19, variations are likely to emerge, and many have emerged worldwide . ” He further outlined that variants are a natural part of viral infection and their duplication so the appearance of the three newest which include: the Brazilian variant, the United Kingdom variant (B-117) and the South African variant (501.V2) is normal and expected. Further, some variants have been reported to be more transmissible and fierce, which means they spread and infect faster.
CARPHA noted that with regard to the Brazilian variant, the study conducted by the company showed that the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine worked efficiently against it. So much so that Brazilian regulatory authorities have already assessed it and are satisfied with the results.
According to CARPHA, Brazil has even approved the vaccine for use in its widely diverse population. Brazil has also ordered over 200 million doses from the company. The Trinidad-based agency further said it is waiting for AstraZeneca to publish the full study to provide more information on the level of efficacy, which it has against the virus.
CARPHA said, “We are convinced in the scientific research of the consequences of reduced disease in countries that have vaccinated large percentages of their populations.” It therefore encourages vaccination in the Caribbean Region.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health Advisor and Former Minister for Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, has acknowledged the news of the effectiveness of the vaccine against the Brazilian variant, which poses a risk to the Guyana population given its proximity. So he urges Guyanese to hurry to receive their injection once they qualify.
He said many of the COVID-19 vaccines being produced have proven to be effective against serious illness. “In public health, the first goal of a vaccination program is to prevent illness,” Ramsammy noted. He said all of the vaccines provide some form of protection against illness and some so far, such as the AstraZeneca vaccine, have proven to be effective against the circulating variants.
Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 is currently being used in Guyana’s immunization campaign, which provides the advantage of protecting citizens from the neighboring Brazilian variant.
In total, Guyana has received 8,300 doses of the vaccine and more doses are expected to arrive from the COVID -19 Global Vaccine Entry Facility (COVAX). That quota will cater to 20 percent of Guyana’s population.
The vaccine has received urgent approval worldwide from the World Health Organization and Guyana has given individual emergency use approval through the Government Analyst’s Department of Food and Drugs.