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News about the vaccination campaign against COVID-19 in Spain

Janssen arrives, AstraZeneca administration resumes and priority groups in the COVID-19 vaccination strategy are updated

 

Lhe Janssen vaccine joins the strategy

The vaccine created by the Janssen Pharmaceuticals Companies of Johnson & Johnson is of the viral vector type, similar to that of AstraZeneca. Its difference with respect to the other 3 vaccines available in Europe is that only one dose is given, which is applied to the upper arm.

How does Janssen work?

As we explained in a previous article (“Vaccines against COVID-19 authorized in Europe”), viral vector vaccines contain a modified version of another virus less harmful than the coronavirus, which is called a vector. This vector enters our cells and uses our cellular machinery to produce the Spike protein, which is completely harmless.

Once this protein is formed, our immune system recognizes it as harmful - even though it is not - so it triggers a response from the body, producing antibodies and activating other immune cells to fight what it considers to be an infection. When the process ends, our body has learned to defend itself and can protect us in the event of an infection by the virus that causes COVID-19.

Its most common side effects are pain, redness, and swelling at the site of the puncture. In the rest of the body you can feel tired, headache and muscle pain, chills, fever and nausea. These effects may appear within a day or two after vaccination and should disappear within a few days.

 

As of April 3, 8.548.598 doses were administered in Spain and 2.841.148 people had received the complete regimen.

 

 

VaAstraZeneca crib: The benefits outweigh the risks and it is extended to people over 55 years

After the suspension of this vaccine in Spain and other countries, due to the appearance of adverse events, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) concluded that the administration of this vaccine is not associated with an increased overall risk of thromboembolic problems in vaccinated people, and that the benefit-risk balance of the vaccine against COVID-19 in terms of hospitalization and death exceeds the risk of possible adverse reactions.

The EMA review confirms the safety of the vaccine, so it is decided to continue with the vaccination program with this drug.

Previous strategies recommended vaccination with AstraZeneca in people between 18 and 55 years of age. Based on new scientific evidence that confirms that the immune response in older adults is similar to the rest of the population, the World Health Organization extends the administration to people over 55 years of age.

At what stage are we in the vaccination campaign?

In Spain we are in the Stage 2 of vaccination, in which the following age groups are included (see graph)

 

 

Who makes up the priority group of very high risk people?

Age is the main risk factor, but there are certain conditions that predispose people who have them to a higher risk of serious illness and death from coronavirus infection. 

Taking into account the existing scientific evidence, accessibility and feasibility, the total number of people involved in each of the different very high-risk groups and the age range in which the administration of each vaccine is recommended, they have been considered as very high risk conditions those people over 16 years of age with the following health problems:

 

 

Updating of the population groups to be vaccinated.

Taking into account the scientific evidence, vaccination groups 5, 7 and 8 have been restructured. The first four prioritized groups are underway, and vaccination has even been completed in some of them.

• The 5C group, that in the previous update included people between 60 and 69 years old, now includes people between 66 and 69 years old, that is, those born between 1952 and 1955. These will receive, together with the members of groups 5A and 5B mRNA or Janssen vaccines when available.
• group 7 It is now made up of people with very high-risk conditions from 16-18 years of age, who will be vaccinated in parallel with people in group 5B (between 70 and 79 years of age).
• group 8 is expanded to include people between the ages of 56 and 65 (born between 1956 and 1965, inclusive) and will be vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine starting with people born in 1956.
   

Vaccination of people who have passed COVID-19

In this new update, it is stated that in people with a history of symptomatic or asymptomatic SARS-coV-2 infection, regardless of the date of confirmation, the following measures will be taken according to age and time of infection:

Diagnosis of coronavirus infection after the first dose:

• People up to 65 years old: The second dose will be administered after 6 months from the onset of symptoms or diagnosis.
• People over 65: The second dose will be administered when they are fully recovered and have completed the isolation period.

Diagnosis of coronavirus infection before receiving the first dose:

• Persons 65 years of age or younger: Only one dose will be given at least 6 months after diagnosis. If it is administered before, it will be considered valid and it will not be necessary to administer the second dose.
• People over 65: A two-dose schedule will be administered.

Vaccination of those with suspected symptoms of COVID-19 or with a recent diagnosis should be postponed until the isolation period has ended. The vaccination of people in quarantine must also be postponed, as they are the contact of a confirmed case, until the end of it.

Related news:
Learn about the testimony of a nurse from a CAP in Barcelona and his experience in the vaccination campaign.

To keep up to date with everything related to the vaccine and the pandemic, we invite you to participate in our insp@ir Community, a safe space where you can communicate with other people in the same situation as you and with health professionals.