Laguna has researched the top three questions of Lakeside residents regarding the second shots of the Sinovac vaccine, and of alternative strategies for gaining full immunity to Covid-19.
Photo: courtesy.
Patrick O’Heffernan, Ajijic. Seniors over 60 in Chapala have for the most part received their first Sinovac Covid-19 vaccinations. The booster shot is recommended within 42 days to assure full protection. As the recommended date approaches, many are asking when they will be able to get a second shot. Some people are also beginning to consider alternatives like going to the US for shots.
Laguna has researched the top three questions of Lakeside residents regarding the second shots of the Sinovac vaccine, and of alternative strategies for gaining full immunity to Covid-19.
When can we expect a second shot in Chapala?
Kerry Watson posted on the Chapala Health Talk Facebook group this week that Governor Alfaro says second shots will arrive in the “next few days” . This was before 1 milion new doses of the Sinovac vaccine arrived at the MexicoCity airport, so the Governor’s announcement may be sooner than expected.
As of Wednesday afternoon, District IV Health authorities had said that second shots could begin this week or early next week and that seniors should be prepared with all their documents to move quickly on short notice. They also indicated that it is possible that all shots will be given at Christina Park in Chapala according to the alphabetic rank of last names.
How long can we wait after the first shot before it loses potency?
The Mexico Health Department said delaying the second Sinovac shot beyond the recommended interval will not affect the effectiveness of the vaccine. Most medical authorities agree.
A recent study of Pfizer and Moderna vaccine in PLOS Biology suggested that lengthening the time between the first and second dose vaccines to 9–15 weeks may minimize new infections, hospitalizations, and deaths.
The WHO suggests that delaying more than 12 weeks on second shots to spread the first shots to more people is not a problem. The Canadian National Health Advisory Committee on Immunization advised that second doses could be delayed up to 16 weeks. In the UK, the second dose is often delayed past 12 weeks. None of these recommendations specifically mention the Sinovac vaccine, but since all the vaccines function in similar ways the advice that waiting beyond the recommended time limit appears to be safe.
Can I mix vaccines?
Some Expats and Mexicans are flying to the US for second shots that are different from their first shots. Is this a good idea?
Most medical experts agree that there is no theoretical reason why mixed vaccines would not work as well as second shots of the same vaccine, and some even theorized that mixing could improve efficacy. But there is little data and the ongoing trials in Europe of mixed use vaccines will not be available until at least June.
Basically, the first dose of a vaccine primes the immune system and the second dose boosts it. Different vaccines deliver their protein-spiking payloads differently, but the payloads are ultimately the same.
Franz-Werner Haas, the CEO of vaccine maker CureVac, told CNBC that “The good news is all these vaccines are coding for the same spike protein … ..there are clinical trials and data that seem to indicate that you can mix and match these different vaccine platforms.”
He was echoed by Danny Altmann, a professor of immunology at Imperial College London who said that he sees no argument why mixing would be an “unsafe or poor practice”. Other experts have told various media outlets around the world the same thing.
For a second shot, you will need a comprobante, proof of your first shot, your CURP card and some official photo id. Bring a copy of your original registration from the mivacuna website (mivacuna.salud.gob.mx/ ) or the copy of your completed vaccination form that if you were given one when you received your first shot. Bring copies of your citizenship – Temporal or Permanente with both sides of your card printed on one side of a single sheet. A utility bill or proof of residency may also be helpful. Given the arrival of vaccines Thursday, be ready for a message to move quickly to get a shot.
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