Sekler on growing Covid numbers: It happens like in sport - we start well and lose in the end

Printscreen: RTS

Virologist and microbiologist Milanko Sekler has told RTS that the biggest problems, as far as the worsening of the epidemiological situation is concerned, are big gatherings, festivities, weddings, sporting events, concerts, without any control. It's too late for Covid passes, Sekler reiterated.

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The number of newly infected people in Serbia has been over 8,000 for several days now. Milanko Sekler, a virologist and microbiologist at the Veterinary Institute in Kraljevo, says that, unfortunately, what he was talking about is now happening, but he does not dare to say that the numbers will continue to grow.

"When we bragged about the huge number of vaccinated people and of being leaders in Europe and the world, when they asked me to comment, I said - don't let us fare like in sport, start well and lose in the end. A very similar thing is happening now," Sekler stressed.

The biggest problem, he assessed, are mass gatherings, festivities, weddings, sports events, concerts, without any control.

"Covid passes had been introduced at several music festivals and they have shown that it works. Then you didn't find it necessary to spread it, to use festivals as a promotion. I advocated in favor of passes during the summer, and then when I saw that the number exceeded 2,000 - now it's too late," Sekler thinks.

He believes that the third dose of the vaccine would be more effective if given after five months.

"I appeal on the state to enable vaccination after five months. It is no coincidence that Israel started with six months, and then lowered it to five months," says Sekler.

When asked by a viewer from Paracin which vaccine to receive as the third dose if the first two were Sputnik, and now that vaccine is not available in Paracin, he said that it would be good to receive Sputnik, but if that is not possible he can also get the Pfizer one.

He said that the combination of Sputnik and Pfizer has not been tested in the world, but Astrazeneca and Pfizer have been, and that combination proved to be ideal.

"If we know that Astrazeneca is a vector platform like Sputnik, they are not the same but very similar, then I am sure that Pfizer gave better protection afterwords than if you received two Pfizers or two Astrazenecas. Then I'm sure it will be the same here, because Pfizer will be given after a vaccine that is similar to Astrazeneca. Another solution is the Chinese vaccine. The protection will not be so high, but it will be long-lasting," said Sekler.

Two days ago, information appeared that YouTube would ban anti-vaccine content that refers not only to Covid vaccines but also to other vaccines, such as those against smallpox and measles.

Sekler believes that the decision of YouTube is a decision of a private company that is trying to be responsible at a time when that is perhaps most necessary.

"I'm not sure if something can be achieved simply with bans. I am more of a supporter of duels and knightly skirmishes. Experts need to present their arguments on the one hand, and on the other those trying to be experts should try to present their views," says Sekler.

He is convinced that the doctors and their associations and chambers around the world should react to any dissemination of information that is not in accordance with scientific facts.

"It is simply not possible to allow someone who has a degree from the Faculty of Medicine to say things that are in complete contradiction with some basic sciences that are studied at those faculties," Sekler said.

(Telegraf.rs)