There are two pieces of good news associated with this Protection against Covid: The first is that an investigation managed to prevent this Pfizer vaccine cause myocarditis after determining in which cases it may cause this rare side effect; The second is to check whether the Argentine Arvac vaccine protects against the XFG subvariant of Ómicron, known as “Frankenstein,” which has become prevalent in recent weeks.
While the world’s eyes are on the global evolution of the K subclass of influenza A virus (H3N2), it is now the predominant respiratory virus in Argentina It’s Covid. It is no longer the pandemic monster it was a few years ago, but unlike other pathogens of its kind, it can leave serious and lasting consequences. It is the one that caused the most hospitalizations in the last week studied, according to the National Epidemiological Bulletin published on Monday.
Researchers at Stanford University in the US have just identified it two molecules Immune signals or cytokines present at high levels in the blood of vaccinated people with myocarditis: CXCL10 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). The authors discovered that these signals could also be activated in the laboratory by exposing immune cells to messenger RNA vaccines against Covid, such as Pfizer’s.
The scientists, whose work was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, discovered that Using antibodies to block CXCL10 and IFN-γ reduced signs of cardiac stress in vaccinated mice and in cardiac spheroids, three-dimensional growths of human cells designed to mimic some aspects of the heart’s structure and function. At the same time, the authors also discovered that they could block the effects of cytokines with Genisteina compound found in soybeans and other legumes that has anti-inflammatory properties.
There is research data that shows this the rarity What does myocarditis mean as a side effect of messenger RNA vaccines? Kathyrn Edwards, a professor emeritus at Vanderbilt University and a vaccine researcher who was not involved in the new study, was quoted by STAT as saying that the animals in the study had received higher vaccination doses in relation to their body size as vaccinated people. The authors of the paper recognized this point and added that this was done to ensure that the animals developed myocarditis. Otherwise, they appreciate they would have needed about 20,000 mice to monitor this rare side effect.
It must also be clarified that a SARS-CoV-2 infection also causes myocarditis a much higher frequency as a vaccination; This is reported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 1,500 cases per million patients with Covid-19. In case of myocarditis after vaccination, statistics indicate 7 out of every million the first doses of vaccination. The frequency increases to 31 cases per million the second dose now 60 out of every million of doses in men under 30 years of age. Cases caused by infections also tend to be more severe than those caused by vaccinations.
The second good news is that the manufacturers of the Argentine Arvac vaccine, developed against the JN.1 sub-variant of Ómicron, reported that this was also the case after a laboratory test protects against Frankenstein stresswhose circulation has grown the most in recent weeks.
To confirm this, they isolated this subvariant in the laboratory – after extracting it from hospital patients – and allowed the virus to reproduce: half of the cells were again supplied with serum from patients vaccinated with Arvac, while the other half were not vaccinated. The conclusion emerges from the preliminary results carried out at the University of La Plata and the University of San Martín, to which access is available Clarionthese were the antibodies against Frankenstein multiplied by eight and the infection stopped.
Jorge Cassará, chemist and head of the laboratory that produces Arvac, also pointed to the “good response” that the vaccines recently donated to some provinces had during the period when there was a shortage of Pfizer vaccines, which is the option that the national state provides free of charge. He attributed this “to the lower reactogenicity of Arvac compared to mRNA doses, meaning that the number of mild side effects occur on or the next day of vaccination.” is very inferior because it is a protein vaccine, the same technology with which other already known vaccines are produced.”
The Pfizer vaccine currently being distributed in Argentina also produces immunity to XFG, the laboratory announced in August. However, the question is now beginning to be discussed as to whether its reactogenicity, outside of the pandemic emergencycorresponds to the current scenario. Voices are emerging that believe that this drug may not be the most appropriate tool today to combat both Covid and the eventual loss of public confidence in vaccinations in general.
One of these voices is that of infectologist Marcelo Corti, member of the National Academy of Medicine. In this context he assured: “never in history Due to the number of vaccinations, an annual vaccine with such a high degree of reactogenicity was required.” However, these are mild side effects (fever, fatigue, weakness, headache, muscle pain, swelling in the area). high incidence.
The expert added: “There is one dissociation between what the vaccinated population perceives as severe physical discomfort after receiving the vaccine and the opinion of experts who confirm that the vaccine is safe and effective. This gap reduces the credibility of referring physicians and unfortunately provides the basis for anti-vaccine minority groups to capitalize on this mistrust and extend it to almost all vaccines.”
Finally, Corti – former head of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Muñiz Hospital and professor at UBA – pointed out that “the inclusion of vaccines produced with traditional and safe technology sends a strong signal to the population and the medical community that we can return to one.” Vaccination strategy as effective as it is safe. And it is a great opportunity to regain lost trust in vaccines.”
About The Author
