We have not managed to achieve a satisfactory level of vaccination of the population in Poland. The number of vaccinations is falling, and the next wave of coronavirus announced for a long time is gaining momentum. A sharp increase in infections can be expected soon. – The higher the state of immunization of the society, the more normality in our lives – says the national consultant in the field of epidemiology, prof. Iwona Paradowska-Stankiewicz.
- On Saturday, August 28, the Ministry of Health announced 290 new COVID-19 infections. This is the most for several weeks
- The number of people staying in hospitals due to the coronavirus is also growing
- According to epidemiologists, we are not adequately prepared for the fourth wave of the pandemic. 48% are fully vaccinated. Poles
- Raising the percentage of vaccinated people to 80% would significantly improve the situation – says prof. Iwona Paradowska-Stankiewicz, epidemiologist
- More information can be found on the Onet homepage.
PAP: Where are we at the point of the pandemic?
Prof. Iwona Paradowska-Stankiewicz: The shortest thing can be said – in progress. The course of the epidemic is variable, with different dynamics, although it is typical, i.e. in the case of an accumulation of non-immune people, an increase in infections occurs, then a high percentage of infected persists and a decrease in infections.
We have 48 percent fully vaccinated. population. What percentage of such people would guarantee that the coronavirus will not pose a threat to us?
As there is still a significant percentage of people susceptible to the infection in society, we can expect periods of epidemic intensity. Raising the percentage of vaccinated people to 80% would greatly improve the situation.
National consultant in the field of epidemiology, head of the Laboratory of Epidemiology of Diseases Combatted by Vaccination at the National Institute of Public Health of the National Institute of Hygiene – National Research Institute.
Countries have different policies to combat epidemics. Some open up more, others limit the access to services for the unvaccinated. What strategy would be appropriate in Poland, taking into account the experience we have acquired after almost XNUMX years of dealing with the coronavirus?
We have the opportunity to observe the course of the pandemic and the anti-epidemic measures taken in various countries in Europe and the world. We also have our own experiences, which are crucial for taking specific actions. We know the main biological features of the coronavirus, we know in what periods of the year it is more dangerous, who is particularly sensitive to its attack, what the consequences of the disease may be. All this information combined with the key (known for years) anti-epidemic measures, which include: isolation of sick people, active search for people from contact with sick people and their quarantine, compliance with hygiene rules and access to an effective “weapon” in the form of effective vaccine preparations – this is our tools to fight the pandemic.
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On the other hand, what should be applied at a particular point in a pandemic is the resultant of many variables analyzed by the order. One of the key variables is the vaccination status of society. The higher it is, the more normality in our lives. We should also still remember about the DDM principle (disinfection, distance, mask).
Is the return of children and adolescents to school justified from the point of view of epidemiology?
Of course, time will tell to what extent going back to school will affect the pace of the epidemic. In the light of the current data on the high level of teachers’ immunization, but unfortunately the unsatisfactory vaccination rate among children and adolescents and the fact that the youngest children cannot be vaccinated yet, prudence and compliance with basic hygiene and sanitary rules in schools should be crucial.
Why is vaccination in the fight against infectious diseases so important, also in the context of combating the coronavirus?
Vaccination is one of the greatest achievements of medicine because it helped save millions of people around the world. It can be said that vaccinations mimic the natural infection, with the difference that they do not cause disease, but only stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies and induce the so-called immune memory, which plays an important role in re-exposure to the pathogen. Then the body recognizes the foreign antigen and starts the increased production of antibodies that neutralize viruses or bacteria and prevent the body from becoming infected.
Why is it worth getting vaccinated?
Because of a few reasons. First, vaccinations prevent contracting infectious diseases, which can be mild but also severe, require hospitalization and sometimes lead to death. Secondly, vaccinations prevent complications from infectious diseases that can damage the functioning of certain organs.
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It has been observed that vaccinations are a good form of exercising our immune system, making it more efficient. There are other benefits of vaccination in terms of population. The higher the percentage of people vaccinated in a given population, the lower the «accessibility» of the pathogen to susceptible individuals. This is called population resistance. Thanks to population immunity, people who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons are protected against infection, thanks to vaccinated people who create a kind of protective umbrella. It is also worth pointing out that only consistent implementation of universal vaccination programs can lead to disease elimination or eradication, i.e. eradication of the disease.
Why do viruses mutate and can we be sure that vaccination will protect us against new variants?
This is a feature of viruses, the faster the transmission of the virus occurs, the more likely a mutation in the pathogen that is more contagious will result in more severe disease. Therefore, it is important to inhibit transmission, which can be achieved through vaccination or compliance with sanitary and hygienic rules. To reassure you, it can be said that vaccine manufacturers usually try to take this fact into account in order to provide the greatest possible protection. The available coronavirus vaccines are effective against the currently circulating variants.
Are the current restrictions sufficient to prevent infections in the fall?
The existing restrictions would certainly be important to reduce infections, but on condition that they are respected. Unfortunately, I regret to say that they are not being followed. It is sad, because we already have a lot of experience in everyday functioning with the coronavirus and we remember lockdown well.
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How do we make sure that some vaccinations are compulsory and others are not?
Several factors are decisive for vaccination to be included in the Preventive Immunization Program.
The most important is the so-called disease burden, meaning that the disease is very common in the population, or the disease is severe and there are many deaths, or the disease is associated with complications of varying severity. These are epidemiological aspects related to the burden of a given disease in society. Then, an important element is the availability of effective and safe vaccines that have been tested in accordance with current testing protocols. Finally, the economic aspect is taken into account.
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When is a booster vaccination introduced, and will it make sense for the SARS-CoV-2 virus?
Regarding the coronavirus, it can be said that it is too early to decide on a booster dose. Results from clinical trials are needed to show whether vaccination is needed, and if so, whether for all or only at risk groups and, of course, at what time after the last dose of vaccine was given. Such research is conducted and will certainly provide answers to the above questions.
Interviewed by Klaudia Torchała (PAP)
Also read:
- In Denmark, COVID-19 ceases to be a “critically dangerous to society” disease
- How long do vaccines protect? Disturbing research results
- Third dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Where, for whom and what about Poland?
- COVID-19 symptoms – what are the most common symptoms now?
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