After the start of vaccination, the number of confirmed cases increased by 3 times… A painful mistake in Chile believed in Chinese vaccines

At a vaccination center in Santiago, Chile, medical staff are preparing to get the Chinese Synovac vaccine. [AP=연합뉴스]

At a vaccination center in Santiago, Chile, medical staff are preparing to get the Sinovac vaccine in China. [AP=연합뉴스]

Chile is struggling with a surge in confirmed cases to become Chile, one of the top countries in the corona 19 vaccination rate in South America. Local health experts point out that the problem was overvalued Chinese vaccines and hastily eased the blockade.

Blockade mitigation begins with vaccination
The quarantine system collapses with a rapid increase in confirmation

On the 18th (local time), the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that “Chile is realizing that’Chinese vaccines are lacking in preventive effect with only one dose’.”

The day before, Chilean health officials announced that a total of 10.5 million people who received the Corona 19 vaccine from China’s Sinobac at least once were analyzed and found that 67% of the symptoms were effective in preventing symptomatic infection. Hospitalization was prevented by 85%, intensive care unit admission was prevented by 89%, and death prevention effect was also found to be 80%.

The Ministry of Health positively evaluated the results of this analysis. Dr. Rafael Araos, an advisor to the Ministry of Health, said, “If everyone is vaccinated with the Synovac vaccine, the number of infections can be reduced from 100 to 33 and deaths from 100 to 20.”

“Chinese vaccine means that once it is hit, it will not work.”

However, health experts noted the difference in the preventive effect between one and two doses. According to WSJ, this analysis showed that the effect of single vaccination was 16% and the effect of double vaccination was 67%. Experts explained, “It means that it is difficult to expect a preventive effect with only one dose of vaccine made in China.”

A similar study was published last week at the University of Chile, according to the BBC. As a result of an estimated analysis of the preventive effect of 7 million vaccinations by the University of Chile, the infection prevention effect reached 56.5% 14 days after the two vaccinations, but the effect of single vaccination was only 3%. For reference, according to WSJ, Pfizer and Modena vaccine showed 91.3% preventive effect 6 months after the second vaccination.

Chilean epidemic expert Claudia Cortes told WSJ, “There was no evidence that the vaccine made in China was weak in the prevention effect with just one vaccination. “You have to speed things up.”

Alleviation of hasty blockade due to vaccine overestimation

In light of the results, experts pointed out that the rapid increase in the number of confirmed cases led to a surge in the number of confirmed cases because they believed too much in Chinese vaccines and hastily eased the blockade. In Chile, more than 7.6 million of a total of 19 million people have been vaccinated at least once, and about 4.5 million people have completed two doses. However, it was pointed out that the quarantine system collapsed at the same time as the vaccination in December.

Chile opened some commercial facilities in January as soon as vaccination began. Restaurants and beaches were filled with people who didn’t wear masks, and theaters and sports facilities went into normal operation. Overseas travelers also increased as the summer vacation season overlapped.

At a school in Santiago, Chile, teachers and staff are waiting for the COVID-19 vaccine. [AP=연합뉴스]

At a school in Santiago, Chile, teachers and staff are waiting for the COVID-19 vaccine. [AP=연합뉴스]

The aftermath of the easing of containment was fierce. Throughout January to March, the number of confirmed cases is maintained in the 3,000-4000 range, but in April, the number of confirmed patients is 6,000-7,000 a year. This is more than three times higher than the level in the 2000s at the start of vaccination.

Health authorities imposed a ban on moving and gatherings in Buryaburya and closed the border again, but infections among young people in their 20s and 30s have already increased rapidly. Fisheries Bueno, a professor of immunology at the Catholic University of Chile, told the BBC, “Currently, precautions such as wearing masks and washing hands are not well observed in Chile.” said.

WSJ said, “Chile is realizing that a vaccine made in China is insignificant once received, and is setting an example in Brazil and Colombia, which are receiving Chinese vaccines.”

Despite experts’ comments, Chilean health authorities claim that Chinese vaccines were the “right choice.” In particular, he emphasized that the number of severely ill patients decreased in the elderly. Health officials said in the report, “As more than 5 million people, including 85% over the age of 70, completed the second vaccination, the proportion of elderly patients admitted to the intensive care unit rapidly declined.” On the contrary, the infection rate among young people who enjoyed daily life without getting the vaccine is increasing, and they are in a position to speed up the second dose. Chile plans to supply a total of 14.2 million Sinobacs by the end of May, and is negotiating the import of 4 million vaccines.

However, as the Chinese health authorities mentioned the third additional vaccination (booster shot) of the domestic vaccine, the Chilean authorities are also considering this, WSJ said.

Reporter Lee Min-jung [email protected]


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