Dr. Danica Grujicic tells forum who won't be able to receive "live" vaccine for coronavirus

Illustration; Medija centar Beograd, Shutterstock

The director of the Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Dr. Danica Grujicic, spoke at today's web conference of the Patient Forum about the connection between central nervous system diseases and the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.

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Speaking about coronaviruss, Dr. Grujicic pointed out that more severe symptoms occur when the virus has the ability to paralyze the respiratory center, causing shortness of breath and weakness in the respiratory muscles, as well as that patients with central nervous diseases are no more at risk than any other patients.

However, if a vaccine for coronavirus is found, there will be particular consideration of how to procede with these patients

"Patients who have surgery for brain tumors will not be able to receive an active or live vaccine for years. These are thought to have a bad effect on the central nervous system and they are more susceptible to a negative response to a live vaccine. They will only be able to receive dead vaccines," she said.

What is a dead vaccine?

A dead or inactivated vaccine contains whole microorganisms that have been killed chemically or by high temperature, while preserving the vaccine's antigenic properties and immunogenicity.

It is used in diseases whose inducers cannot be successfully attenuated during the making of the vaccine, that is, a modern way of making vaccines today is based on genetic manipulation of pathogens in order to induce gene mutations for important virulence factors.

They are stable and safe because they are less immunogenic than live vaccines and induce the production of antibodies, and are therefore always given in multiple doses together with the adjuvant.

(T.T./Telegraf.rs)