Daily observer: How long does protection from COVID-19 vaccines last?

Published : Thursday, 22 April, 2021 at 9:36 PM  Count : 341

How long does protection from COVID-19 vaccines last?

Experts don't know yet because they're still studying vaccinated people to see when protection might wear off. How well the vaccines work against
emerging variants will also determine if, when and how often additional shots might be needed, reports Associated Press.

"We only have information for as long as the vaccines have been studied," said Deborah Fuller, a vaccine researcher at the University of Washington. "We
have to study the vaccinated population and start to see, at what point do people become vulnerable again to the virus?"

So far, Pfizer's ongoing trial indicates the company's two-dose vaccine remains highly effective for at least six months, and likely longer. People who got
Moderna's vaccine also still had notable levels of virus-fighting antibodies six months after the second required shot.

Antibodies also don't tell the whole story. To fight off intruders like viruses, our immune systems also have another line of defense called B and T cells,
some of which can hang around long after antibody levels dwindle. If they encounter the same virus in the future, those battle-tested cells could potentially
spring into action more quickly.

Even if they don't prevent illness entirely, they could help blunt its severity. But exactly what role such "memory" cells might play with the coronavirus --
and for how long -- isn't yet known.

While the current COVID-19 vaccines will likely last for at least about a year, they probably won't offer lifelong protection, as with measles shots, said Dr.
Kathleen Neuzil, a vaccine expert at the University of Maryland.

"It's going to be somewhere in the middle of that very wide range," she said.

Variants are another reason we might need an additional shot.

The current vaccines are designed to work against a particular spike protein on the coronavirus, said Mehul Suthar of the Emory Vaccine Center. If the
virus mutates enough over time, vaccines might need to be updated to boost their effectiveness.

So far, the vaccines appear protective against the notable variants that have emerged, though somewhat less so on the one first detected in South Africa.

If it turns out we need another shot, a single dose could extend protection of the current shots or contain vaccination for one or more variants.

The need for follow-up shots will also depend partly on the success of the vaccination push globally, and tamping down transmission of the virus and
emerging variants.

Millions face hunger as Myanmar crisis worsens, UN says

Millions face hunger as Myanmar crisis worsens, UN says

Food insecurity is rising sharply in Myanmar in the wake of the military coup and deepening financial crisis with millions more people expected to go
hungry in coming months, the United Nations said on Thursday, reports Reuters.

Up to 3.4 million more people will struggle to afford food in the next three to six months with urban areas worst affected as job losses mount in
manufacturing, construction and services and food prices rise, a World Food Program (WFP) analysis shows.

"More and more poor people have lost their jobs and are unable to afford food," country director Stephen Anderson said in a statement.

"A concerted response is required now to alleviate immediate suffering, and to prevent an alarming deterioration in food security."

The WFP said market prices of rice and cooking oil had risen by 5% and 18% respectively since the end of February, with signs that families in the
commercial capital of Yangon were skipping meals, eating less nutritious food, and going into debt.

The agency plans to expand operations, tripling to 3.3 million the number of people it assists, and is appealing for $106 million, it said. A Myanmar junta
spokesman did not immediately answer phone calls to seek comment.

The Myanmar army seized power from the democratically elected civilian government on Feb1, plunging the Southeast Asian nation into turmoil and
cracking down on mass protests and a nationwide civil disobedience movement with brutal force, killing more than 700 people, a monitoring group said.

The crisis has brought the banking system to a standstill, shuttering many branches, leaving businesses unable to make payments and customers unable to
withdraw cash. Many people depend on remittances from relatives abroad. Most imports and exports have been halted and factories have closed.

The World Bank forecasts Myanmar's GDP to contract 10% in 2021, a reversal of previously positive trends. Before the coup, the WFP said about 2.8
million in Myanmar were considered food insecure.

The coronavirus pandemic took a heavy toll of the economy, which had been growing as it emerged from decades of isolation and financial
mismanagement under former military governments.
Coronavirus reaches Everest as climber tests positive
A Norwegian climber hoping to summit Everest confirmed Thursday that he has tested positive
for Covid-19, in a blow to Nepal’s hopes for a bumper mountaineering season on the world’s
highest peak.

The pandemic wiped out last year’s season but Nepal has eased quarantine rules in an effort to
attract more climbers despite the difficulties of treating them if they contract the virus.

“My diagnosis is Covid-19,” Erlend Ness told AFP in a Facebook message. “I’m doing ok
now… The hospital is taking care (of me).”

Ness was evacuated from the slopes by helicopter and taken to a hospital in the Nepali capital
Kathmandu after spending time at Everest base camp.

Norwegian broadcaster NRK, which interviewed him, reported that a sherpa in his party had also
tested positive.

“I really hope that none of the others get infected with corona high up in the mountains. It is
impossible to evacuate people with a helicopter when they’re above 8,000 metres,” Ness told
NRK.

Breathing is already difficult at high altitudes so any outbreak of disease among climbers
presents major health risks.

“The plan was to get fast high up in the mountains to make sure that we wouldn’t get infected…
I’ve been unlucky and I could have done more by myself when it comes to sanitary precautions,”
Ness added.

One hospital in Kathmandu confirmed it had taken in patients from Everest who had contracted
coronavirus but could not give a number.

“I can’t share the details but some evacuated from Everest have tested positive,” Prativa Pandey,
the medical director at Kathmandu’s CIWEC Hospital, told AFP.

But Mira Acharya, a spokesperson for Nepal’s tourism department, said it had so far not received
any reports of Covid-19 among climbers.

“A person was evacuated on April 15 but we were informed that he is suffering from pneumonia
and is being treated in isolation. That is all the information we have received,” she said.

Dawa Steven Sherpa of Asian Trekking said everyone at base camp was concerned.

Nepal has issued 377 permits this year to climb the mountain, and the final number is expected to
exceed the 381 handed out in 2019.

A city of tents hosting hundreds of foreign climbers and support staff is fast growing at the foot
of Everest and other peaks in the area.

In recent seasons Everest has seen a surge in the numbers of climbers making attempts to summit
the slope, leading to overcrowding that has been blamed for multiple deaths.

Eleven people died climbing the world’s highest peak in 2019, with four deaths blamed on
overcrowding. On one day 354 people were lined up to reach the top from Nepal’s southern side
and Tibet’s northern approach.

To ease the crowding Nepal’s tourism ministry has announced rules capping the number of
people who can summit the mountain per window of suitable weather.

Expedition organisers have been told to send teams up the peak strictly in accordance with
permit numbers or limit the number of climbers going up at one time.

“The decision… (was) taken after consultation with expedition organisers and other stakeholders
concerned,” Acharya said.
Bangladesh joins new platform with China to get COVID vaccine
Bangladesh is joining a new platform of six countries initiated by China to receive COVID-19 vaccine.

The countries joining the new platform, dubbed "Emergency Vaccine Storage Facility for COVID for South Asia" are China, Bangladesh, Afghanistan,
Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Regarding the joining new platform, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said it is not an alliance, rather it is a 'platform of cooperation among six nations.'

Earlier, the Foreign Minister told mass media that 'whenever any of the six nations requires, it would be able to procure vaccine from the platform.' "We
call it mutual cooperation among six nations of South Asia. Now, we have developed relations with China. China will provide us vaccince soon."

Abdul Momen said initially China would provide Bangladesh six lakh doses of vaccine as gift. "A memorandum of understanding will be inked in this
regard, and its draft has already been prepared."

The Foreign Minister further said Bangladesh is also availing Russia's cooperation to produce vaccine itself. Russia would provide Bangladesh vaccine
producing technology. A memorandum of understanding would also be signed in this regard. However, Russia has imposed a condition saying that
Bangladesh would not be able to transfer the technology to any third country. Bangladesh also agreed to Russia's position. Russia has also proposed to
provide the technology to any pharmaceutical company of Bangladesh. Two to three months may be required to complete the process.

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