GREATER practical and financial help for parents is on the cards now that a new 'family law' has passed its second reading in the Council of Ministers, with extended maternity and paternity pay, protected time...
Updated immunisation strategy released: Vaccine 'turns' and types
01/03/2021
NEW 'vaccine groups' have been published by Spain's health ministry, giving the public a greater idea of when it might be their turn – and which of the current three types they will receive.
The latter may be subject to change if additional brands of the Covid vaccine appear on the market – the Johnson & Johnson jab, which, it is claimed, provides immunisation in one dose, is likely to be the next to hit the shelves, whilst the Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca versions are now in use.
Health authorities in Spain still consider age to be the key risk factor, given that the immune system begins to weaken over the course of adult life – starting as young as the late 30s.
Immunity is thought to take a 'dive' in stages, with the first major reduction being between the end of the 30s and beginning of the 40s, and the second being at approximately 62 to 64 in men and 66 to 71 in women.
As yet, children have not been included in the vaccine programme – even though the human immune system is not thought to be fully developed until around the age of seven or eight – since very few cases of Covid in children have been found to be serious, according to health authority information available at present.
This, too, may be subject to change as scientists' knowledge of this relatively-new strain of the Coronavirus increases.
It is also believed, at the moment, that when pregnant women are given the vaccine, their unborn babies also benefit from the immune response.
New society groups have been added to the nationwide vaccination programme, including the 56-59 age bracket, but health bosses have yet to define clearly which persons under 60 with chronic health conditions will be immunised in which order.
The groupings do not include prison inmates, who will follow a different régime.
“For reasons relating to feasibility and access to prison complexes, taking into account greater risk of exposure [to the virus], the principle of need and of protection for the vulnerable, it is recommended that prison populations are grouped and vaccination activity simplified in line with the individual situations in each penitential centre,” is the official line on immunising this community.
“Vaccines used for each inmate will depend upon their individual circumstances [mainly their age].”
RNA messenger vaccines – the Pfizer and Moderna versions – will be kept for those aged over 55, whilst the AstraZeneca jab will be given to those aged 55 and under, currently from age 45 and above, as well as essential workers under 45.
Both doses given to each member of the population will be from the same laboratory, since data on the effectiveness of two different versions of the vaccine are not yet available.
Scientists have said so far that there is no evidence of one vaccine type being 'better' or 'worse' than another, given that they followed different development procedures and clinical trial processes, but that it is believed all three types currently available offer a 'very high level of protection' against illness, particularly serious illness caused by the virus.
It is not yet clear whether a vaccinated person will be 'Covid-free'; at present it is still considered possible for someone who has had both doses to catch the SARS-CoV-2 virus and be infectious, but that the vaccine boosts their immune responses to fight the effects of it.
Order of groups to be vaccinated
So far, Group 1 people have had both doses – those who live or work in care homes – as have Group 2, being front-line health and care workers.
Group 3A are workers with a high level of viral exposure but who are not front-line employees: Hospital staff not directly caring for Covid patients, GPs and surgery staff, dentists and dental support workers, and anyone else whose job involves attending to patients not wearing masks for 15 minutes or more.
Group 3B are those working in personal services, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacies and pharmacy offices, involved in making and fitting dentures or dental implants, and pandemic response workers not on the front line.
Group 3C are all other health and care staff who have not previously been vaccinated for one reason or another.
Group 4 are people who need 24-hour personal care, but do not live in care homes, plus those who care for them, whether professionals or not.
Group 5A are those aged 80 or over, who are being vaccinated at present, whilst Group 5B are those aged 70 to 79 inclusive, and Group 5C are aged 60 to 69 inclusive.
Group 6A are emergency services, Armed Forces and security forces, including the police, Guardia Civil, Royal Navy, coastguard, firefighters and similar.
Group 6B are teachers, teaching assistants, nursery workers and other education staff responsible for infants, pre-school and special school, whilst these, where they work with primary and secondary pupils, fall into Group 6C.
Group 7 has yet to be defined in full and placed in order, but broadly covers all those aged under 60 who have health conditions that mean catching Covid could put them at a high risk of serious illness.
Group 8 are people between 56 and 59, and Group 9 are those aged 45 to 55 inclusive.
As yet, there is not a 'Group 10' for healthy under-45s not at high risk of exposure or in an essential professional rôle – these are likely to be considered 'rest of the population' and will be reached once the other groups have been fully immunised.
Which vaccine?
Pfizer vaccines are two separate doses of 0.3ml each, three weeks apart, and Moderna vaccines are two doses of 0.5ml each, four weeks apart. The Pfizer was the first to reach Spain and has been in use since its arrival on December 27, 2020, and this and the Moderna inoculation are being given to the same groups.
Pfizer and Moderna injections are being given to Groups 1, 2, 3A, 3B aged over 55 years, 3C aged over 55 years, Group 4 aged over 55 years, all of Group 5, all of Group 6 aged over 55, Group 7 aged 55-59 inclusive, and Group 8.
Groups 3A-C, 4, 5A, 6A-C and 7 may overlap with each other if necessary or more practical due to 'organisational or feasibility matters', Spain's ministry of health says.
The AstraZeneca jab will be given to Groups 3B and 3C who are aged 55 or less, Group 4 aged 55 or less, Groups 6A-C inclusive aged 55 or under, and Group 9.
Vaccines for under-56s in Groups 6A, 6B, 6C, and Group 9, may overlap with each other where 'organisational and feasibility issues' make this essential or more practical.
AstraZeneca vs Pfizer and Moderna: The age split explained
The AstraZeneca, or 'Oxford' jab is not being given to anyone in Spain aged 56 or above, due to concerns about its effectiveness in this age group.
This is not because of any adverse reaction or a reduced immune response found in the over-55s – in fact, researchers say the AstraZeneca vaccine 'appeared to be tolerated better' by older volunteers – but it is not clear whether there are sufficient data to support its use.
During clinical trials, the AstraZeneca inoculation was tested on volunteers aged 18-55, on those aged 56-69, and on those aged 70 and over – whilst there was 'little or no reduction' in immune response in the second and third groups compared with the first group, it was the size of the volunteer teams that has led to uncertainty.
The 56-69 age group of participants in the clinical trial made up just 12% of the total, whilst the 70-plus age group accounted for a mere 4%, and each only appeared in one of the two testing régimes.
Although the AstraZeneca vaccine does appear to work just as well in all age groups – and, in fact, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended it for people of any age – authorities in several countries have opted to keep the AstraZeneca drug for those aged 55 and under until more data are available, probably through extended trials in populations aged at least 56.
The situation has led to many countries becoming cautious about whether or not the AstraZeneca should be administered to the over-65s in particular, but the science community says this is due to lesser information being available rather than any concrete cause for concern.
Curiously, the AstraZeneca vaccine – each dose being 0.5ml - was found to be more effective when the second dose was delayed: When it was administered six weeks after the first, an effectiveness level of 55% was found, but with the second dose given at 12 weeks, effectiveness was measured at 81%.
By contrast, it is believed the effectiveness level of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines may reduce if more than three to four weeks were left between doses.
The three vaccine types are concluded to be effective in and safe for administration in persons with chronic health conditions, such as cardiovascular or respiratory disorders or diabetes, and also with two or more such conditions at once, as a total of 39.3% of participants in clinical trials across the board had at least one of these illnesses.
Vaccines for people who have had Covid-19
Immunity to Covid after recovery is not thought to last longer than a few weeks or months, but the vast majority of people who have had the virus produce neutralising antibodies, and their T-cell responses are stimulated, according to health authorities, meaning cases of patients becoming infected a second time within six months of being diagnosed the first time are negligible.
The exact percentage of immunity generated through having and recovering from the virus, and how long this lasts, have not been determined, but based upon what is known to date, four immunisation groups have been defined by Spain's health authority among those who have already had Covid.
Those aged over 55 will have a second dose if they have already been given the first after recovering (Group 1); over-55s who became infected after having their first dose will get a second once they have tested negative and completed their mandatory self-isolation, whichever happens later (Group 2); patients aged 55 or less will be given just one dose of the vaccine, six months after being diagnosed (Group 3); and patients aged 55 or less who become infected after their first dose will be given their second dose six months after diagnosis (Group 4).
Related Topics
NEW 'vaccine groups' have been published by Spain's health ministry, giving the public a greater idea of when it might be their turn – and which of the current three types they will receive.
The latter may be subject to change if additional brands of the Covid vaccine appear on the market – the Johnson & Johnson jab, which, it is claimed, provides immunisation in one dose, is likely to be the next to hit the shelves, whilst the Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca versions are now in use.
Health authorities in Spain still consider age to be the key risk factor, given that the immune system begins to weaken over the course of adult life – starting as young as the late 30s.
Immunity is thought to take a 'dive' in stages, with the first major reduction being between the end of the 30s and beginning of the 40s, and the second being at approximately 62 to 64 in men and 66 to 71 in women.
As yet, children have not been included in the vaccine programme – even though the human immune system is not thought to be fully developed until around the age of seven or eight – since very few cases of Covid in children have been found to be serious, according to health authority information available at present.
This, too, may be subject to change as scientists' knowledge of this relatively-new strain of the Coronavirus increases.
It is also believed, at the moment, that when pregnant women are given the vaccine, their unborn babies also benefit from the immune response.
New society groups have been added to the nationwide vaccination programme, including the 56-59 age bracket, but health bosses have yet to define clearly which persons under 60 with chronic health conditions will be immunised in which order.
The groupings do not include prison inmates, who will follow a different régime.
“For reasons relating to feasibility and access to prison complexes, taking into account greater risk of exposure [to the virus], the principle of need and of protection for the vulnerable, it is recommended that prison populations are grouped and vaccination activity simplified in line with the individual situations in each penitential centre,” is the official line on immunising this community.
“Vaccines used for each inmate will depend upon their individual circumstances [mainly their age].”
RNA messenger vaccines – the Pfizer and Moderna versions – will be kept for those aged over 55, whilst the AstraZeneca jab will be given to those aged 55 and under, currently from age 45 and above, as well as essential workers under 45.
Both doses given to each member of the population will be from the same laboratory, since data on the effectiveness of two different versions of the vaccine are not yet available.
Scientists have said so far that there is no evidence of one vaccine type being 'better' or 'worse' than another, given that they followed different development procedures and clinical trial processes, but that it is believed all three types currently available offer a 'very high level of protection' against illness, particularly serious illness caused by the virus.
It is not yet clear whether a vaccinated person will be 'Covid-free'; at present it is still considered possible for someone who has had both doses to catch the SARS-CoV-2 virus and be infectious, but that the vaccine boosts their immune responses to fight the effects of it.
Order of groups to be vaccinated
So far, Group 1 people have had both doses – those who live or work in care homes – as have Group 2, being front-line health and care workers.
Group 3A are workers with a high level of viral exposure but who are not front-line employees: Hospital staff not directly caring for Covid patients, GPs and surgery staff, dentists and dental support workers, and anyone else whose job involves attending to patients not wearing masks for 15 minutes or more.
Group 3B are those working in personal services, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacies and pharmacy offices, involved in making and fitting dentures or dental implants, and pandemic response workers not on the front line.
Group 3C are all other health and care staff who have not previously been vaccinated for one reason or another.
Group 4 are people who need 24-hour personal care, but do not live in care homes, plus those who care for them, whether professionals or not.
Group 5A are those aged 80 or over, who are being vaccinated at present, whilst Group 5B are those aged 70 to 79 inclusive, and Group 5C are aged 60 to 69 inclusive.
Group 6A are emergency services, Armed Forces and security forces, including the police, Guardia Civil, Royal Navy, coastguard, firefighters and similar.
Group 6B are teachers, teaching assistants, nursery workers and other education staff responsible for infants, pre-school and special school, whilst these, where they work with primary and secondary pupils, fall into Group 6C.
Group 7 has yet to be defined in full and placed in order, but broadly covers all those aged under 60 who have health conditions that mean catching Covid could put them at a high risk of serious illness.
Group 8 are people between 56 and 59, and Group 9 are those aged 45 to 55 inclusive.
As yet, there is not a 'Group 10' for healthy under-45s not at high risk of exposure or in an essential professional rôle – these are likely to be considered 'rest of the population' and will be reached once the other groups have been fully immunised.
Which vaccine?
Pfizer vaccines are two separate doses of 0.3ml each, three weeks apart, and Moderna vaccines are two doses of 0.5ml each, four weeks apart. The Pfizer was the first to reach Spain and has been in use since its arrival on December 27, 2020, and this and the Moderna inoculation are being given to the same groups.
Pfizer and Moderna injections are being given to Groups 1, 2, 3A, 3B aged over 55 years, 3C aged over 55 years, Group 4 aged over 55 years, all of Group 5, all of Group 6 aged over 55, Group 7 aged 55-59 inclusive, and Group 8.
Groups 3A-C, 4, 5A, 6A-C and 7 may overlap with each other if necessary or more practical due to 'organisational or feasibility matters', Spain's ministry of health says.
The AstraZeneca jab will be given to Groups 3B and 3C who are aged 55 or less, Group 4 aged 55 or less, Groups 6A-C inclusive aged 55 or under, and Group 9.
Vaccines for under-56s in Groups 6A, 6B, 6C, and Group 9, may overlap with each other where 'organisational and feasibility issues' make this essential or more practical.
AstraZeneca vs Pfizer and Moderna: The age split explained
The AstraZeneca, or 'Oxford' jab is not being given to anyone in Spain aged 56 or above, due to concerns about its effectiveness in this age group.
This is not because of any adverse reaction or a reduced immune response found in the over-55s – in fact, researchers say the AstraZeneca vaccine 'appeared to be tolerated better' by older volunteers – but it is not clear whether there are sufficient data to support its use.
During clinical trials, the AstraZeneca inoculation was tested on volunteers aged 18-55, on those aged 56-69, and on those aged 70 and over – whilst there was 'little or no reduction' in immune response in the second and third groups compared with the first group, it was the size of the volunteer teams that has led to uncertainty.
The 56-69 age group of participants in the clinical trial made up just 12% of the total, whilst the 70-plus age group accounted for a mere 4%, and each only appeared in one of the two testing régimes.
Although the AstraZeneca vaccine does appear to work just as well in all age groups – and, in fact, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended it for people of any age – authorities in several countries have opted to keep the AstraZeneca drug for those aged 55 and under until more data are available, probably through extended trials in populations aged at least 56.
The situation has led to many countries becoming cautious about whether or not the AstraZeneca should be administered to the over-65s in particular, but the science community says this is due to lesser information being available rather than any concrete cause for concern.
Curiously, the AstraZeneca vaccine – each dose being 0.5ml - was found to be more effective when the second dose was delayed: When it was administered six weeks after the first, an effectiveness level of 55% was found, but with the second dose given at 12 weeks, effectiveness was measured at 81%.
By contrast, it is believed the effectiveness level of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines may reduce if more than three to four weeks were left between doses.
The three vaccine types are concluded to be effective in and safe for administration in persons with chronic health conditions, such as cardiovascular or respiratory disorders or diabetes, and also with two or more such conditions at once, as a total of 39.3% of participants in clinical trials across the board had at least one of these illnesses.
Vaccines for people who have had Covid-19
Immunity to Covid after recovery is not thought to last longer than a few weeks or months, but the vast majority of people who have had the virus produce neutralising antibodies, and their T-cell responses are stimulated, according to health authorities, meaning cases of patients becoming infected a second time within six months of being diagnosed the first time are negligible.
The exact percentage of immunity generated through having and recovering from the virus, and how long this lasts, have not been determined, but based upon what is known to date, four immunisation groups have been defined by Spain's health authority among those who have already had Covid.
Those aged over 55 will have a second dose if they have already been given the first after recovering (Group 1); over-55s who became infected after having their first dose will get a second once they have tested negative and completed their mandatory self-isolation, whichever happens later (Group 2); patients aged 55 or less will be given just one dose of the vaccine, six months after being diagnosed (Group 3); and patients aged 55 or less who become infected after their first dose will be given their second dose six months after diagnosis (Group 4).
Related Topics
More News & Information
BRITISH media outlets have lauded Spain's Queen Letizia's effortlessly-elegant dress sense over the past few days as she accompanies her husband King Felipe VI to London.
SPAIN'S headcount has risen to its highest figure in history – for the first time ever, the population has broken the 48 million barrier.
GERMAN supermarket chain Aldi has announced a major expansion plan for Spain in 2024, with its distribution centre in Sagunto (Valencia province) set to open next month and a another one on the cards for the north.