COVID CAUTION

Coronavirus infections are expected to again envelop the country in a matter of weeks, putting seniors 60 years and over most at risk, but Jamaica’s Chief Medical Officer, (CMO) Dr Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, has cautioned against hitting the panic button.

The CMO indicated on Wednesday that globally, COVID-19 antibodies have shown to wane much faster than expected among that group. However, locally, she said the vaccines continue to stand up to scrutiny.

But despite this, senior health officials are pressing to offer vaccine booster shots to healthcare workers and the elderly amid the shortening of the curfew hours for the Christmas period and an expected increase in travel.

Some 18,000 people over 60 years are now due extra doses.

“There are certain populations, especially over 60 years, that have a higher likelihood that their immunity would wane quicker. So in light of a new variant and the possibility of a fourth surge, we would encourage persons to get a booster if they qualify at this time,” said Bisasor-McKenzie during a Gleaner Editors’ Forum at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

Of the 20 COVID-19 deaths recorded between December 1 and 8, sixteen were people aged 60 years and older.

It was not immediately clear how many of those persons were fully or partially inoculated, but according to the CMO, unvaccinated Jamaicans have accounted for 99 per cent of the 2,416 overall deaths.

“Right now, we are not seeing any deaths [as a result] of a waning of our vaccine effectiveness ... . So we are not seeing at this time, not in our local situation, evidence of a waning of immunity,” the medical doctor said.

That aside, health officials will have to contend with the issue of seniors who have not returned for their second dose of the vaccine within the 12-week window though they are in the minority.

Up to eight weeks ago, 114,476 first doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine were administered to seniors.

Of that figure, 98,030 second doses have so far been administered, resulting in an 86 per cent take-up rate.

For the Pfizer vaccine, 15,103 first doses had been administered to the group up to three weeks ago.

Some 13,342 second doses were administered up to Thursday, representing an 88 per cent take-up rate.

“We certainly are on track for the Pfizer second doses. We don’t have very much of a backlog where that is concerned,” she said.

Bisasor-McKenzie also suggested that there is no overwhelming concern about booster shot hesitancy among the group.

Meanwhile, medical doctor Michael Abrahams has argued that it will take more than vaccination to successfully navigate the expected fourth wave and the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

He said while vaccination plays a major role in the fight against the virus, a public education campaign on early treatment is needed.

“There’s some kind of binary thinking that you’re either for the vaccine or you’re against it. I’m a physician and I support vaccination strongly, but I also support early treatment,” he said.

Abrahams said his colleagues must go beyond telling those confirmed positive for COVID-19 to remain home for two weeks and report if symptoms become worse.

He said patients must be informed about what to take to affect their immune system and viral replication.

Abrahams argued also that patients ought to be in daily contact with a physician and should always be aware of their oxygen levels. He said a healthy diet and exercise are also key in the fight.

“Many people who die do so because they reach hospital late. So it has to be a multipronged approach,” he said.

Bisasor-McKenzie said in preparation for the fourth wave, Jamaicans are being urged to get vaccinated and observe COVID-19 measures.

She said also that hospitals are shoring up supplies needed, including oxygen, following the crisis that occurred over the weekend of August 28 and 29, which resulted in a number of deaths.

The CMO supported Abrahams’ call for a push beyond encouraging vaccination, noting that those with comorbidities are at greater risk if they contract the virus.

“I would encourage persons to eat healthily and to exercise and to encourage the physicians out there to encourage patients to do that,” said Bisasor-McKenzie.

kimone.francis@gleanerjm.com