“A lot of people took the third dose many months ago, which means that they have immunity that protects against severe disease, but will no longer be effective against the infection itself, because this usually requires high levels of antibodies” – explains Prof. Krystyna Bieńkowska-Szewczyk, head of the Department of Molecular Biology of Viruses at the Institute of Biotechnology of the University of Gdańsk.
- «People travel very intensively, trying to catch up with the pandemic, and the new so-called the omicron sub-variant spreads extremely efficiently »- this is one of the factors that fueled the next wave of the epidemic
- As the expert explains, in the summer there have always been quite a lot of virus infections that cause various forms of colds. They are easily transferred during travel: on airplanes, trains or public transport
- «We do not know how many infections there are in Poland. At the moment, we do not have any way of understanding the scale of infections, because very few people are tested in Poland. People who test themselves privately are not reported »
- You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page
What diseases should we be afraid of during the holiday season?
Prof. Krystyna Bieńkowska-Szewczyk: There have always been quite a lot of viral infections in the summer, the so-called respiratory pathogens that cause various forms of colds. It is not only the coronavirus, but also incl. rhinoviruses and adenoviruses. Such viruses are very easily transmitted during travel: on airplanes, trains or public transport. The second factor that promotes the spread of viruses is air conditioning, namely large temperature fluctuations between an air-conditioned room and the temperature outside. Such temperature jumps facilitate contamination. A wave of various respiratory and intestinal infections can be expected during the holiday season.
So how do you avoid viruses?
We are definitely safer in the fresh air. And if we want to avoid threats, let’s try to participate in outdoor events.
What about the aforementioned coronavirus? When is the next wave of infections expected?
We can see that the next wave has already reached Western Europe, but it does not yet have such dangerous consequences as the previous wave. Firstly, because our immunity is greater after getting sick or vaccinated, but it is certainly not complete. Secondly, it is believed that the Omikron is not as dangerous as the Delta variant, but discussions are underway here because it depends on who is ill and in what situation their body is in. The scale of infections is certainly growing very fast.
If someone is vaccinated, should they feel safe?
People who were vaccinated a long time ago become infected, and there are quite a lot of such people in our country. A lot of people took the third booster dose many months ago, which means they have the immunity that protects against severe disease, but will no longer be effective against the infection itself, as high levels of antibodies are usually needed for that. It is worth if all those who wish to be vaccinated with the fourth dose of the vaccine, which definitely increases the immunity based on the fast and efficient production of antibodies.
So it is enough to get vaccinated with the fourth dose?
It will definitely help a lot, but with us it is very difficult. Vaccines are only available to people over the age of 80 or to people with specific diseases, and that’s not enough.
Where did this next wave of coronavirus come from?
The summer wave of coronavirus infections and other infections has come quite violently, perhaps because we are experiencing rapid changes in the weather and climate change. In addition, people travel very intensively, trying to catch up with the pandemic, and the new so-called the Omicron sub-variant spreads extremely efficiently.
In recent days, reports on cases of illnesses include about XNUMX cases a day. How do you deal with this data?
We do not know how many infections there are in Poland. At the moment, we do not have any way of understanding the scale of infections, because very few people are tested in Poland. People who test themselves privately are not reported.
You mentioned traveling. On the one hand, infections occur in small spaces, on the other hand, we are leaving more and more often because we want to catch up with the lockdown period. So what about the masks? Should they be mandatory?
It would be very good to come back to the masks, e.g. on the plane or in crowded means of communication. Even during a pandemic, when we wore masks, there were fewer infections with other viruses. I do not insist that people wear masks everywhere, that is not possible now, and outside they are not needed. It is important that a person who is infected tries to isolate themselves and does not further spread the virus.
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In Poland, according to the data of the Ministry of Health, more than 59 percent were vaccinated. population. How do you judge it?
It is a pity that so few people have been vaccinated in our country. I would be happy if the children at the end of the school year were given a dose of the vaccine with their certificate, maybe thanks to that we would have a smaller wave of infections in the fall. (PAP)
Interviewed by Piotr Mirowicz
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