“The great advantage of Nuvaxovid is that it increases our repertoire against the corona virus,” says Bernd Lamprecht, head of the pulmonary clinic at the Kepler University Hospital in Linz. However, the corona expert does not expect a better effectiveness compared to the previously approved vaccines. “The difference is that the spike protein is vaccinated ready-to-use, whereas with the mRNA preparations, only the blueprint, which is then put together by the body independently.”
However, the product from the US manufacturer Novavax is not so cost-intensive and does not have to be cooled as laboriously. “These aspects will – we have to be honest – play an important role above all for developing and emerging countries, in other words for countries that have previously had logistics problems like these.” He thinks waiting for the new vaccine is “absolutely wrong”. His appeal: “Please vaccinate now – with the vaccine that is available. If you get the first sting before Christmas, you will be very well protected after the second dose in mid-January.”
New drugs
But there are not only innovations in vaccines, but also in drugs. “We will probably be using molnupiravir as early as the end of December – for patients who are at high risk of a severe course,” says Bernd Lamprecht. The tablets are said to reduce this risk by 30 to 50 percent. Bernd Lamprecht expects the promising Paxlovid corona pill from Pfizer in the first quarter of 2022. “It was even more convincing in studies. According to this, severe courses can be reduced by 90 percent.”
However, drugs are not an alternative to vaccination, but rather a “second safety net. On the one hand, they also have possible side effects and, on the other hand, prevention is always better than repair.”
Source: Nachrichten
