Covid-19 e a corrida pela vacina

Abstract

Covid-19 and the race for a vaccine Tragically, Brazil ranks second in the Americas in terms of the number of covid-19 cases. This tragedy is principally due to national policies that are irresponsible, chaotic and indifferent to suffering. Ironically, the high morbidity and mortality figures in Brazil and Latin America have allowed our scientists and authorities to actively take part in the competition for the first vaccine against the coronavirus. The Brazilian population has advantages for those wanting to test experimental vaccines: it is large, ethnically diverse, geographically spread out and-contrary to many European countries-most people accept immunization (Andrenoti, Londoño, 15 ago. 2020). Of the more than 150 vaccines under development worldwide, about six are in phase three, during which clinical trials must be carried out in different countries (phase three is prior to the final phase, after whichideally-comes approval). Also ironically, Brazilian material and human resources, which the last few governments wanted to dismantle-such as infrastructure to produce and test vaccines, and a significant number of immunologists and public health specialists working for the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde, or SUS) who could take part in trials and recruit volunteers-are functioning during this race to develop a vaccine. In late August, 2020, more than ten experimental vaccines were being tested on humans in Brazil (Lopes, 20 ago. 2020). While it is considered offensive to attribute a nationality to the coronavirus (such as calling it the "Chinese virus"), no one questions attributing nationalities to the vaccines (journalists discuss whether the "English," "Chinese," US" or "Russian" vaccines are the best). There are four best-known attempts in Brazil. The first began in late June 2020, when the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) bought the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford with AstraZeneca, a giant pharmaceutical company in the UK, as part of a technology transfer agreement in order to produce it locally (Mahase, 2020). Similar clinical trials have been carried out by this company in the UK, South Africa, United States and other Latin American countries. AstraZeneca negotiated with Argentina and Mexico-countries with notable human resources and biomedical infrastructure-to produce a vaccine for all of Latin America except Brazil (Mexico also contacted other companies-the French company Sanofi, the US company Janseen, and the Chinese companies CanSino and Walvax-to test their vaccines). The second significant Brazilian experiment was carried out by the Butantan Institute, in São Paulo, together with Inovac Biotech, a private Chinese company. Thanks to this agreement involving six Brazilian states, clinical trials were begun, ensuring future transfer of technology to produce the vaccine. At the same time, another Chinese company, National

Vacinas: primórdios de uma prática da saúde

“…Por causa da produção de anticorpos e células de memória, a vacina garante que, quando o agente causador da doença entre em contato com o corpo dessa pessoa, ela já esteja preparada para responder de maneira rápida, antes mesmo do surgimento dos sintomas da doença. A vacina é, portanto, uma importante forma de prevenção contra uma grande variedade de enfermidades [11].…”

“…Obviamente, a vacina não pode substituir as políticas de prevenção e proteção de alguns grupos considerados mais vulneráveis a doença, devendo sempre haver associação entre tais medidas [27]. Não se pode desprezar a importância das pesquisas de segurança, das quais participam milhares de indivíduos, a fim de identificar reações adversas e cruciais contra a vacina, especialmente quando são utilizadas tecnologias de produção nunca antes manuseadas [11]. A vacina tem como contraindicações, gestantes, lactantes, pessoas imunodeprimidas, pessoas sem contato prévio com o vírus da dengue (soronegativos) e pessoas com alergias grave, anafilaxia, a algum dos componentes da vacina [7].…”

Covid-19: desafios para a organização e repercussões nos sistemas e serviços de saúde

“…Na pandemia de Covid-19, os recursos humanos e financeiros são considerados essenciais na corrida por uma vacina (Cueto et al, 2020). Atualmente existem mais de duzentas vacinas candidatas, e dessas, mais de sessenta já em desenvolvimento clínico para a Covid-19 em todo o mundo (WHO, 2020c).…”

A geografia escolar como mensageira da globalização em tempos de duas pandemias: a de Covid-19 e a de pós-verdade

“…Sobre a relação entre a pandemia de COVID-19 e a Globalização, Cueto (2020) Contudo, há o outro lado desta moeda, tal qual nos coloca Timoner (2020), ao nos dizer que "A COVID-19 é o espinho na globalização. O que a crise de 2008-09 e a revolta identitária não tinham conseguido em uma década, um vírus alcançará em meses".…”