As we know, the efforts of the scientific community and the commitment of all those involved have allowed to develop and test vaccines against COVID-19 in a record time. On the 27 th of December, vaccination against COVID-19 began in European Union countries using the vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech with the trade name Cominarty® . The start of vaccination is a milestone in the history of this pandemic that in 2020 changed our lives. Vaccination of the eligible population will be the main preventive measure against COVID-19 caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The vaccination of each one of us will allow individual protection and will be our contribution to public health, so that the immunity of the group that will control the spread of disease in the community is achieved. The Portuguese vaccination plan for COVID-19 will take place during the year 2021. Three phases were planned, defined based on the population groups priorities and risk associated with the profession, age, health status, among other factors. What are the vaccines against COVID-19? Several vaccines are in its final stages of approval in the European Union. As of today, it has only been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) the vaccine Cominarty® produced by Pfizer-BioNTech. It was with Cominarty® that vaccination started in Portugal, but other vaccines will be used in our country. In addition to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the European Union purchased vaccines from five more pharmaceutical companies (Astrazeneca, Moderna, Curevac, Janssen and Sanofi / GSK). Thus, not all Portuguese will be vaccinated with the same vaccine. About Cominarty® from Pfizer-BioNTech How does it work? Vaccines prepare the body to better defend itself and not develop disease when it contacts with an infectious agent, in this case the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. There are several types of vaccines, Cominarty® from Pfizer-BioNTech is an mRNA vaccine, acronym that means messenger ribonucleic acid. Cominarty® mRNA is a "carrier" of instructions for cells to produce a protein (spike protein) that the SARS-CoV-2 virus needs to enter cells in the body. When the vaccine is administered, some of our cells temporarily produce this protein. Then, our immune system recognizes the protein as a foreign compound and starts producing antibodies and activating other mechanisms to attack it. The mRNA from the vaccine does not remain in the body, it is degraded shortly after vaccination. When a vaccinated person contacts the SARS-CoV-2 virus, their immune system already knows the virus and is ready to defend the body so that disease does not occur. At what age can we be vaccinated? Cominarty® has been approved for the prevention of COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus in people aged 16 and over . For pregnant women , the risks and benefits of vaccination should be weighed, since the vaccine has not been studied in this group. How are we vaccinated? Cominarty® vaccination schedule includes 2 doses of vaccine, administered at least 21 days apart. Administration is done in the arm muscle. Is the vaccine effective and safe? There is no vaccine with 100% effectiveness. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been shown to be highly effective, around 95% , in trials involving several thousand volunteers, including people with asthma, chronic lung disease, diabetes, hypertension and overweight. The most common side effects of Cominarty® were mild or moderate and improved shortly after vaccination. Among these are pain and swelling at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle and joint pain, chills and fever, which are also common effects of other vaccines. Read about the results of the vaccine efficacy and safety tests . As with all vaccines, Cominarty® must also be administered under the supervision of healthcare professionals and with appropriate medical treatment available in the event of a severe reaction (anaphylaxis). Cominarty® does not contain the virus and does not cause COVID-19 . Do not forget By vaccinating the eligible population, we will be able to achieve the group immunity necessary to resume our normal lives, recover our health (with a special focus on mental health) and our economy. When your turn comes, get vaccinated! Author : Daniel Beirão December 29, 2020 Meet the general and family medicine team from Hospital da Luz network The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
