“Those who have not yet had the first two vaccinations should get them. I want to emphasize that the third dose is important, because although the vaccine does not completely protect against infection, it does protect against a very serious disease. In the meantime, vaccines have been given for a year. “Billions of people have been vaccinated and we have a very global picture of their safety,” said Andrea Ammon, head of the European Organization for Disease Control (ECDC), in an interview with the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency.
“We do not have any evidence to suggest that a fourth vaccination is necessary for everyone,” he said, adding that “for those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, an active drug (antiviral pill) will be a good and necessary alternative.” .
“As the spread of Omicron is so rapid and vaccination coverage is not enough, restrictive measures should continue to apply, which” should be adapted to the situation, “said the former head of the Institute’s Infectious Diseases Department. Robert Koch of Berlin.
“Children and young people must continue to be educated. Of course all protection measures must be taken. “But the closure of schools is the last measure that one should take,” he underlines.
He considers that “in the case of epidemics, the latter prevails between the restriction of freedoms and the good of health. “No one is affected so much on a personal level when it comes to preserving public health.”
“The coronavirus has unpleasantly surprised me so often that I am careful with my predictions. “I hope we will not have to exhaust the Greek alphabet because there is a distance between Omicron and Omega and I hope we will not have to travel it,” he concludes.
Following is the interview of Dr. Andrea Ammon at the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency:
– Madam Amon, what are the responsibilities of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)?
Our goal is to strengthen the defense against infectious diseases, the timely detection and analysis of emerging threats and the treatment of pandemics. However, their management is the responsibility of the Member States. We make suggestions but do not dictate what to do. However, we also collect data from around the world to assess which diseases are a risk for Europe as well, because communicable diseases can travel around the world within 48 hours …
-Was Europe, the ECDC, prepared to deal with the coronavirus?
In January 2020 we received the assurance that the states had checked their national plans and were prepared. We now know that we were not as prepared as we thought then. And the lesson we have learned is that some things need to be done better.
-What will ECDC do better to deal with future pandemics?
We are now better equipped. The new mandate we have received from the European Parliament and the European Council includes strengthening the cooperation of the Member States through the digitization of data. This way it will be more complete and the general picture will be available to us faster.
– Is the agreement between the EP and the Council the basis for the creation of a “European Health Union”?
Yes, because expanding our mandate is just one part of building it. These include an extended mandate for the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the legal arrangement for dealing with cross-border health threats and the establishment of the new European Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority.
-What stage are we in with the pandemic?
Omicron has an unprecedented spread, but it is not so dangerous. We also find that in countries where vaccination is high we have lower numbers of ICU transits and fewer Omicron deaths. Vaccination therefore plays a decisive role and not the properties of this variant. The initial concern is due to the fact that so far this is the variant that causes the most mutations in the genetic profile, something that did not happen with the previous ones.
– Is the third vaccination necessary?
According to the data we have, all vaccines work against serious diseases. The booster dose, however, increases protection, which is why we recommend taking it three months after the second. Those who have not yet done the first two must do so. I want to emphasize that the third dose is certainly important, because although the vaccine does not completely protect against infection, it does protect against a very serious disease.
-Will a fourth vaccination follow?
We do not have any evidence to suggest that a fourth vaccination is necessary for everyone. Of course we monitor the development, if and to what extent the protection decreases after the third vaccination. For people who have a weak immune system, however, a fourth dose should be considered.
-What do you think about Pfizer Paxlovid antiviral pill?
For those who can not be vaccinated for medical reasons an active drug will of course be a good and necessary alternative.
Should vaccination be mandatory for all or for certain groups of citizens?
Mandatory vaccination is a tool in our arsenal to increase vaccination coverage. Countries that introduced it naturally saw vaccine rates rise. However, this is a measure that polarizes and should therefore be taken, after being assessed by the Member States as to whether it suits their social conditions, whether it ultimately motivates or prevents citizens from being vaccinated. There are countries in the EU where the vaccination rate is high although there is no obligation so it would be counterproductive.
Should children under 12 be vaccinated?
Yes, the view of the European Medicines Agency (Coreper) is clear: vaccinating children aged 5-11 is safe and effective.
-What protection measures are considered appropriate at this stage?
To the extent that Omicron spreads so rapidly and vaccination coverage is not sufficient, we believe that restrictive measures, such as indoor masking, distance keeping, indoor restraint, teleworking, staying, should continue to apply. at home when we have symptoms.
-Should the measures be relaxed if the cases are reduced?
The measures should be adapted to the current situation. How the states themselves will decide, there are no generally applicable rules.
– The schools have opened. Is it right or not?
Children and young people must continue to be educated. Of course all protection measures must be taken. But closing schools is the last step one should take.
-Some refuse vaccination. Have you worked out a plan to convince them?
In some countries where vaccination is very low, such as Bulgaria and Romania, we provide the opportunity to inform the public by the doctors to whom we offer special seminars so that they are better equipped to answer the questions of the citizens who have doubts. This is a complex task.
-What would be the main argument that the vaccines have not been adequately tested?
In the meantime they have been granted for a year. Billions of people have been vaccinated and we have a very global picture of vaccine safety, and Coreper’s colleagues confirm that they now have an impressive vaccine safety profile.
– Are the reactions of those who claim that the measures are unconstitutional or consider that their freedoms are being violated justified?
The question is of course mainly legal, but in the case of epidemics between the restriction of freedoms and the good of health, the latter prevails. It is important to adhere to the principle of proportionality of the measures taken to address the threat. But no one is so much affected on a personal level when it comes to preserving public health.
How will people who believe in various conspiracy theories be persuaded? Do you have a plan?
These theories circulate faster than their refutation. This is one. On the other hand, if one begins to refute these theories then one simply repeats them, spreads them further and reinforces them. It is a difficult chapter. We are drawing up a plan for medical staff on how to deal with such theories. Today citizens have access to a lot of information without researching how reliable it is. Through the EU Vaccine website, we try to inform citizens in all languages ​​in an objective way and about which sources are reliable.
Do you share the prediction that we will soon emerge from the pandemic crisis or wait for a new wave?
The over-optimistic ones exist, but the coronavirus has surprised me so often that I am careful with my predictions. I share it but I’m not sure. I hope we will not have to exhaust the Greek alphabet because there is a distance between Omicron and Omega and I hope we will not have to travel it.
All the news.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News
and be the first to know all the news
.
