President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Six months after taking vaccine his immune or antibody levels dropped, heralding prevailing concerns about long term effects of Covid-19 vaccines on the population.
Putin said this while speaking at a meeting of government officials where he also confirmed that he had received the nasal formula, Russia’s new pioneering Covid-19 vaccine, administered through the nose without a needle, as part of re-immunization.
“Six months after my vaccination, my antibody levels dropped and experts recommended a revaccination process,” Putin said.
The nasal formula was developed by Moscow’s Gamaleya Institute and is based on the country’s flagship Sputnik V vaccine.
WHO cautions on rush to vaccinate children
Adults and those with more risk factors remain the number one priority for vaccination, not children, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged.
In guidance issued on Wednesday, the WHO noted that “As children and adolescents tend to have milder disease compared to adults, unless they are in a group at higher risk of severe COVID-19, it is less urgent to vaccinate them than older people, those with chronic health conditions and health workers,” the guidance said.
The WHO acknowledged that even though children can experience ‘long COVID-19,’ which includes long-term symptoms, this was still under investigation.
The advice is in contrast with recent developments around the world and comes as many countries have begun authorizing vaccines for children in hopes of keeping infections down as we head into winter. Countries already vaccinating children include the US, UK, EU, Canada, China, India, and Israel, according to report.
Expert explains how children react to Covid-19 vaccine
Denis Logunov, the deputy head of the Moscow-based Gamaleya Institute which developed the Sputnik V, explained that “The kids tolerate it not just well, but very well.”
Logunov also noted that the vaccine has shown a higher immune response in children than in adults, as well as an almost complete lack of any side effects.
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“This means that we’ll be able to protect all those who want to [get it], in the 12 to 17 age group,” from Covid-19. The coronavirus poses the most danger for the elderly, but severe cases are also possible among children.”
He also said that Sputnik V is effective against the new strains of the virus, and currently does not require an update.
