Fourth dose in Poland. What preparations do we have to choose from? [WE EXPLAIN]

From 22 July, people aged 2-60 years can enroll in the fourth dose, i.e. the second booster, of the vaccine against the SARS-CoV-79 virus. The updated vaccines directed against the currently dominant variant of Omikron have still not been approved for use, therefore the currently available vaccines are being used. These are both mRNA preparations.

1. From April, the second booster dose in Poland can be taken by people 80 years and older. Now, those aged 60-79 have joined this group
2. A second booster dose can be taken at least four months after the previous dose
3. You can choose the Pfizer and Moderna preparations, but the fourth dose should be the same vaccine as the third dose.
4. More information can be found on the Onet homepage

The fourth dose in Poland – who can take it?

On July 11, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) officially issued the recommendation that European countries, including Poland, were waiting for. According to it, the second booster dose of vaccines against COVID-19 can be given to people aged 60 to 79.

Previously, the fourth dose in Poland could be taken by two groups: people aged 80+ and those over 12 years of age, but with impaired immunity, whose immune response to vaccination may be insufficient. Vaccinations of the first group started on April 20, people with reduced immunity could take the fourth dose even earlier.

Registration for the fourth dose for the 60-79 group started on July 22. How many are eligible for these vaccinations?

«Tonight we issued 4,6 million e-referrals for vaccination against coronavirus for people 60+ and 12+ with immunodeficiency»- the health ministry informed on Friday on Twitter.

During the first day, 100 thousand people registered for vaccination. people. «Today, up to 9,00 am, 60 people have signed up for vaccination in groups 12+ and 100+ with reduced immunity. people »- the ministry informed on Saturday.

Why is a fourth dose necessary?

We have over two years of the coronavirus pandemic behind us. In Poland, vaccination against COVID-19 started in December 2020. Over time, studies have shown that the effectiveness of protection against infection decreases after a few months (the effectiveness of protection against severe course and death also, but to a lesser extent). The same applies to the level of antibodies obtained as a result of disease.

The coronavirus persists, in the meantime several variants have emerged, and each new one turns out to be more contagious (although it does not make it more severe), so a booster dose was required. The first booster, or the third, could have been obtained last year, now the fourth is given in many countries. For the time being the oldest citizens.

«After vaccination against COVID-19, we observe that the effectiveness of the vaccine is declining over time, as measured by the level of antibody concentration and the maintenance of this concentration over time. We administer a booster dose of the vaccine to counteract the declining efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine and enhance the antibody response and broaden the immune response’s ability to recognize more variants.

Booster doses ensure that high protection against hospitalization and severe COVID-19 disease and death from COVID-19, including those from emerging Omikron sub-variants, is maintained. It is therefore crucial that people who belong to the groups at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms receive a second booster dose. And it is even more important that people vaccinated only in the basic scheme now get vaccinated with a booster dose »- we read in the e-mail received on Friday from the Ministry of Health Communications.

What do the data from Israel say?

The health ministry cites data from Israel, which was the first to start administering the fourth dose. It happened at the turn of 2021 and 2022. From December 31, Israelis over 60 years of age, medical staff and immunocompromised people could receive a second booster dose.

“For example, in Israel, where the first booster dose was introduced first, followed by the second booster dose, there was significant protection against hospitalization and death from COVID-19 during the dominance of the Omikron variant, especially in people 60 years and older”, writes MZ .

Israel has presented a series of studies that have shown that the fourth dose significantly enhances immunity. The latest one was published in early July. The Times of Israel wrote about them, citing the results of research conducted by Tel Aviv University, Ben Gurion University and the Israeli Ministry of Health.

It turned out that the fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (a preparation from Pfizer is used in Israel) caused 72 percent. reducing the number of deaths among the most vulnerable citizens. Second booster dose It also reduced the risk of hospitalization in the event of coronavirus infection by more than 60%. and reduced by 34 percent. risk of infection.

Fourth dose – what vaccines?

Only the Pfizer vaccine is used in Israel. In Poland, the Moderny preparation is also used for vaccination. Both are mRNA vaccines. So, for the fourth dose, the same preparations are used as for the third.

What exactly are the MoH guidelines? We can read on the government vaccination website that only mRNA vaccines are used in the second booster:

1. Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty)
2. Modern (Spikevax)

The resort emphasizes that «the same preparation should be taken as the one previously taken«While recalling that«if you had a different vaccine during your primary immunization (e.g. J&J) you can now get Pfizer as a booster«.

A second booster dose can be taken at least four months after the previous dose.

What about vaccines directed against Omikron?

The development of a booster vaccine against the Omikron variant has been underway for several months. Not only Moderna and Pfizer / BioNTech are working on it, but also Novavax. However, there is still a long way to go to the end, i.e. the moment when they will be available for use.

Moderna wants to submit a registration application to the US regulator (Food and Drug Administration – FDA) in order to be able to start delivering the first batches of vaccines there from August. In Europe, the entire procedure will probably take longer, and this also applies to Pfizer.

The government originally talked about the September date, when it would like to start administering such preparations. Now it is known that this is not very realistic, so he decided to administer the fourth dose of mRNA preparations available all the time.

We asked the ministry what the prospects for updated vaccines are.

«Currently, it is not possible to indicate whether and when new vaccines against COVID-19 adapted to the Omikron variant will be available in Poland due to the registration process. EMA is evaluating the scientific data on two new COVID-19 mRNA vaccines adapted to the SARS-CoV-2 Omikron variant (from Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna). These vaccines will be able to be administered as a booster dose to people vaccinated in the basic scheme against COVID-19 ″ – replied the Ministry of Health.

“If new vaccines show increased protection against Omikron variants – higher protection against infection and virus transmission, then such products will also be included in vaccination” – noted the ministry.

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