Vaccines.Araceli, 96, first woman vaccinated against Covid in Spain
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The first authorized vaccine against Covid-19, developed by BioNTech and Pfizer, has begun to be administered this Sunday morning in Spain.
Araceli, a 96-year-old woman living in the Los Olmos center for the elderly in Guadalajara has been the first person to receive an immunization that, according to forecasts, will be administered before spring to 2.3 million Spaniards.
We review some of the main keys of the drug.
What is it?
Called
Comirnaty
, this vaccine is based on the use of a messenger RNA molecule.
Basically, this molecule, as if it were an instruction book, tells the cells of our body how to produce a SARS-CoV-2 protein (spike) that despite being harmless and does not cause infection by itself, it is capable of awaken the defense system so that it learns to locate and destroy the pathogen if it comes into contact with it in the future.
Specifically, the immune system, after recognizing this protein as foreign, produces antibodies and specific T cells against the virus.
Messenger RNA does not stay in the body.
After fulfilling its function, it degrades a few days later.
How is it administered?
It is necessary to administer two doses of the product, spaced at least 21 days apart.
Generally administration is by intramuscular injection, in the upper arm.
Is it safe and effective?
Regulatory agencies, such as the EMA in Europe or the FDA in the United States, have given the go-ahead to the product after verifying that it is safe and useful against the disease.
One of the trials carried out, with 36,000 volunteers, showed an efficacy of 95%.
This means that the vaccine reduced the number of symptomatic cases of the disease by 95% in people who received the vaccine, an effect that was not seen in the placebo group.
Does it have side effects?
During clinical trials, the adverse effects detected were mild or moderate.
These reactions include pain and swelling at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint pain, chills and fever, according to a document from the Spanish Medicines Agency.
These adverse reactions were detected in more than 1 person in 10.
Fewer than 1 in 100 people reported itching at the injection site, enlarged lymph nodes, trouble sleeping, and discomfort.
According to the AEMPS, there has been a paralysis of a part of the face in less than 1 in 1,000 people.
Allergic reactions have also been detected with the product, including "a very small number of cases of severe allergic reaction."
Can allergy sufferers wear it?
The AEMPS notes that the number of cases of severe allergic reaction has been very small and recalls that, like all vaccines, Comirnaty must be administered under close medical supervision, with available medical treatment.
People who know that they have an allergy to any of the components described in the vaccine (described in section 6 of the package leaflet) should not receive the vaccine.
Can children get vaccinated?
Currently, the vaccine is recommended from 16 years of age.
Clinical trials have not included people under the age of 16, so the product is not currently indicated in children.
The European Medicines Agency has agreed with the laboratory to carry out a research plan for the vaccine in children at a later stage.
What about pregnant women?
Studies in animal models "have not shown any harmful effects in pregnancy," notes the AEMPS.
However, the information on the use of the vaccine in pregnant women "is still very limited."
"The decision to use the vaccine in pregnant women or during breastfeeding should be made with the assessment of a health professional to individually assess the benefits and risks in each case."
What things are not yet known about the vaccine?
Among other things, it is not yet known how long the protection provided by the vaccine lasts or if it is effective in preventing the spread of the virus.
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
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