A polyclinic doctor from Almaty shared why two vaccinations against COVID-19 are needed
Slow vaccination rates could lead to an even larger increase in the number of people infected with the coronavirus. Vaccination can prevent mutations in the virus. This was reported by the chief physician of the polyclinic №8 of the city of Almaty, Farida Agibayeva.
The head physician of the clinic spoke about how immunity to COVID-19 is developed after vaccination and why it is important to receive two components.
According to her, after receiving the vaccine, the human body gets acquainted with the vaccine and starts the work of two types of immune cells: B and T cells.
“B cells are actively producing antibodies, but without a second dose of the vaccine, the amount of these immunoglobulins drops sharply after a few weeks. T-lymphocytes are the main weapon of the immune system. It is these T cells that find danger and destroy the pathogen. The main problem of T-cells is that after the first stage of vaccination, the immune system creates a very small number of T-lymphocytes, and the body remains unprepared to meet the virus, ”F. Agibaeva explained.
This is why a second dose of the vaccine is needed to trigger the rest of the immune response.
“The results of large medical studies of all the COVID-19 vaccines available today show that the second dose increases the degree of protection severalfold. Israeli scientists have come to the conclusion that the level of antibodies in patients who received both doses of the coronavirus vaccine is 6-12 times higher than in those who were vaccinated once. Thus, we see that the second stage of vaccination is fundamentally important for reliable protection, ”added the chief physician of the polyclinic.
The coronavirus vaccine should be given in two stages, 21 days apart. The first dose does not provide a long-term protective effect due to the production of a small amounts of antibodies. The second dose enhances and consolidates the effect of the first, the amount of antibodies in the human body increases.
In the polyclinic of Almaty No. 8, three vaccination rooms are deployed, and three mobile teams are functioning. Vaccination is carried out by six teams, consisting of 36 medical workers who are authorized to carry out vaccinations.
“In the polyclinic, vaccination is carried out by appointment through the egov.kz portal and the registry, as well as on a first-come, first-served basis, without breaks and weekends from 8.00 to 20.00,” F. Agibaeva said.