Some 73.3% of the Albanian population is immunized but another booster dose of the vaccine is recommended for people over 60 and those with comorbidities. These are the main findings of a seroepidemiological study of the immune status against the SARS-COV-2 virus in the Albanian population compiled by the Academy of Sciences of Albania. Study group led by academic Genc Sulçebe and prof. dr. Alban Ylli presented the third phase of preliminary results on this study released on Monday In the third phase of the study, which started on June 16, 2021 to July 23, 2021 in Tirana, 1527 residents aged 20 to 75 years were called for testing who were randomly selected from the lists of family doctors. The overall seroprevalence of anti-S1-SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibodies was 73.3%.
“In all likelihood, this percentage reflects the immune status of the Albanian population after the third wave of COVID-19 that was caused by the Alpha variant and before the current Delta wave,” the study said. “From this we can conclude that currently a rapid vaccination immunization of at least 20% of the Albanian population still unvaccinated is needed in order to reach the new threshold of collective immunity which is estimated at about 90% of the population for the Delta variant,” noted the researchers.
“To prevent reinfection in vaccinated individuals or those who have passed the infection over 6 months ago, it is discussed to carry out a booster dose of vaccine in people over 60 years of age, as well as in those with concomitant immunosuppressive diseases. This is in line with current international scientific recommendations. Also it is recommended vaccination of young people over the age of 12 with approved vaccines for these ages,” concluded the study.
Health Ministry announced that there were 451 new Covid cases and 7 fatalities over the last 24 hours. The appeal for vaccination goes on.
