January the 11th, 2021 - Professor Alemka Markotic, the director of Zagreb’s ‘’Dr. Fran Mihaljevic’’ Clinic for Infectious Diseases, has discussed the good news surrounding both of the approved coronavirus vaccines for Croatia.
As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, Professor Alemka Markotic has stated that one piece of good news lies in a study undertaken by Moderna where they showed that even after four months after complete coronavirus vaccination, people still have high levels of antibodies that don’t diminish quite so quickly or easily, which means that protection could very likely be longer-term than previously assumed.
“Another bit of good news is Pfizer’s research, where they showed their vaccine also protects people against these newer mutant strains of these viruses which are spreading up to 70 percent faster and have caused problems in the UK and Africa. The first research done on it indicates that,’’ she stated.
Professor Alemka Markotic also stated that it is good that both vaccines were created using the same concept, so that this research should be very much valid for both of them. However, it is not yet possible to estimate exactly how well the vaccine should protect people against the disease.
"It's hard to say because we don't have enough long-term research to look at. Moderna is now planning thirteen months of monitoring it and looking at the possible long-term side effects and protection, but we expect, according to preliminary research, that this could last for more than a year. Some people, who are more optimistic, expect it to last for several years,’’ said the director of Zagreb’s Clinic for Infectious Diseases.
Reports of people contracting the novel coronavirus more than once should be looked more deeply into.
"These are individual cases that aren’t that common. We’ve declared every positive finding to be an infection, and we’re aware that some of these findings are just the presence of the virus in the nose,’’ said Professor Alemka Markotic, adding that in such cases, additional research should be conducted.
The new strain of coronavirus
The new British strain has not yet been recorded in Croatia. If it does come, it will spread faster, as it has done everywhere else. Here is what Markotic said about it:
"In Ireland, there’s been a sudden jump in new infections. All countries have recently detected these strains and as a result, caution has been further increased. Either measures are being introduced by those who have relaxed them previously or some are tightening things up, such as what’s happening Germany. It's still early. We’re in the winter months, we have to endure two more months of this cold weather and spending much more time inside.’’
She also commented on the decline in the rate of infection that Croatia has been experiencing and is thankfully continuing to record:
"Croatia is, once again, among the European countries that are doing better now. Fortunately, there are fewer deaths, there’s less pressure on hospitals, which is very good. But it isn’t the time to relax any measures now, looking at other countries… There is a possibility of new strains beginning to spread. We’re monitoring the situation and we will react to it with concessions when the time comes," concluded Professor Alemka Markotic.
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