SLMA recommends Pfizer, Moderna, AZ booster shot for over 60s
COLOMBO – The Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) has recommended administering Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or AstraZeneca as booster shots for people over 60 who have already received two doses of Sinopharm vaccine.
Citing research conducted in the Middle East, an SLMA statement said the Sinopharm vaccine has shown to be less effective for the over-60 population category.
The booster shot is one of the recommendations made by the medical body for Sri Lanka’s vaccine rollout, after analyzing international data.
“Researches done in Bahrain and Middle Eastern countries using four types of vaccines, Sinopharm, Pfizer, Sputnik V and AstraZeneca, have shown that the fatality rate and severe case rates have gone down due to vaccination,” Consultant Immunologist and Head of the Department of Immunology, Medical Research Institute Sri Lanka, Dr. Rajeev De Silva told reporters on Sunday (5).
“However, of the deaths that occurred even after being completely vaccinated, most had been given the Sinopharm vaccine,” he said.
Citing a study done by the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Dr. Silva said around 7% of the above 60 population that got Sinopharm did not produce any antibody in them.
“Sinopharm is a good, strong vaccine. Around 90% of who got the vaccine have produced antibodies in them. But there is a small number that does not respond to the vaccine,” he acknowledged.
Dr. Silva said the SLMA had recommended the third dose of AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Moderna for the over 60s, after analyzing the data and taking the unresponsive numbers into consideration.
“The third dose should be given one month after giving the second dose,” he said
Dr. Silva said, even though the Sinopharm vaccine’s effectiveness reduces for the above 60 age category, it is highly recommended for those aged 18 to 60 years.
“If there is anyone above 18 who did not get vaccinated, we ask them to do it as soon as possible. The data on COVID-19 deaths shows that 90% are people who were not vaccinated. And most of them have other co-morbidities,” he explained.
Explaining the recommendations of the SLMA, Silva said some children above 12 who have certain medical conditions would also not have any positive reaction to the vaccines. He also added that antibody formation post-vaccination may also not occur in patients who had an organ transplant operation such as kidney, bone marrow, cancer patients, patients under other strong medications and dialysis patients due to the existing medical condition.
He also said the Pfizer vaccine can be given as the second dose for Sputnik first dose recipients, if there is any delay or issue in obtaining the second dose of the Russian vaccine.
Dr. Silva said people over 60 who got both doses of Pfizer, AstarZenca or Moderna will have good protection for about six months, and recommend a third dose of the same vaccine after six months.
Chairman, State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC), Dr. Prasanna Gunasena said the National Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases has been advised to be prepared for the rollout of a booster shot by the end of the year.
“We have been advised to prepare for a third dose by November or December to give the high-risk population and people who are in high-risk areas,” Gunasena told reporters on August 28.
-economynext.com