Which country announced the end of the “Covid-19” pandemic, then decided to give a fourth dose of the Corona vaccine to a specific group, and what is the latest data about the fourth dose, then what is the need for that dose of the Corona vaccine?
What country announced the end of the Corona pandemic and then decided to give a fourth dose?
The answer is Sweden, which canceled almost all the few remaining restrictions to combat the “Covid-19” pandemic, last Wednesday, and stopped most tests to detect infections with the Corona virus, but it recommended on Monday that a fourth dose of the Corona vaccine be given to a certain group.
The Swedish government, which had refrained throughout the pandemic period from imposing a general closure throughout the country, had announced earlier that it would cancel the remaining restrictions, declaring the actual end of the pandemic, with a decrease in cases of severe symptoms and deaths due to infection with the disease due to the vaccination campaign and the low risk of the mutant. Omicron.
"As far as we know, this pandemic is over, it's not over, but as far as we know about the rapid changes and restrictions, it's over," Health Minister Lena Hallengren said in a press statement.
She added that "Covid-19" is no longer classified as a danger to society.
But Fredrik Elge, a professor of virology at Umea University and one of the fiercest critics of Sweden's no-lockdown policy, told Reuters: "We have to be a little more patient, and wait at least another two weeks. We have the financial resources to continue the tests."
"The disease remains a huge burden on society," he added.
Who will receive a fourth dose of the Corona vaccine in Sweden?
Swedish health authorities have advised giving a fourth dose of the Covid vaccine to all people over 80 years old, as well as to residents of nursing homes, whatever their age.
How much is needed for a fourth dose of the Corona vaccine?
For now, experts in the US say that depends on the person's condition: if they are immunocompromised, they should get a fourth injection.
As for the others, there is debate but a fourth dose doesn't seem to be in sight, according to a report by Dylan Scott at VOX.
Experts say that since immunocompromised people are currently more at risk, it makes sense for them to get another dose of currently available vaccines.
As for everyone else, scientists are still evaluating whether another dose is actually necessary, as well as what kind of dose it should be.
People who are immunocompromised are already eligible for 4 doses under the recommendations of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Eligible patients include people receiving treatment for cancer, people who have had an organ transplant, people with HIV infection, as well as people with autoimmune disorders or who are taking medications that can suppress their immune system.
People with significantly reduced blood did not receive the same level of protection from the initial two-dose regimen of Pfizer and Moderna - by developing an immune response - which is why they were among the first groups eligible to receive a booster last fall. .
For them, 3 doses work effectively as their first course of vaccination, with a booster dose given several months later.
Immune response after corona vaccine
Preliminary studies from the United Kingdom, the United States and France indicated that about half of immunocompromised people who did not show any immune response after two doses did, and they did show an immune response after the third dose, and more robust research is underway to evaluate the efficacy of a fourth injection, especially for people with from immunodeficiency.
So immunocompromised people are given priority to receive the fourth dose at the moment.
For everyone else, experts say we'll need to wait and see.
And a recent study of the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - reported by Fox - showed that people who received 3 doses had a 96% reduced risk of hospitalization from Omicron.
Even people who received only two doses saw an 81% reduction in risk.
Although immune responses vary by age and health, the vast majority of older adults still show an immune response 5 months after the third dose.