FHI expert: More infection can have a positive effect and strengthen Norwegians’ immune systems
More coronavirus in society can strengthen Norwegians' immune systems and have a positive effect, according to a vaccine expert at the National Institute of Public Health (FHI).
More coronavirus in society can strengthen Norwegians’ immune systems and have a positive effect, according to a vaccine expert at the National Institute of Public Health (FHI).
Sara Viksmoen Watle at the FHI told VG that Norway could tolerate more infection as long as the vaccines protect against serious illness.
She drew a parallel to the flu virus.
“Virus circulation can have a positive effect – because then it will ‘boost’ your immune response. As long as you do not get very ill, you will refresh your immune system,” she said.
Watle added that when the entire population over the age of 18 has been vaccinated, there will be infection among children, the unvaccinated, and those for whom the vaccine has not had a protective effect.
New considerations
This summer, the FHI will consider whether children and young people should be vaccinated and whether a third refresher dose is needed.
When it comes to children, Watle says that they generally have a low risk but that some will get seriously ill if many become infected. The vaccines in use so far seem to protect against serious illness, even when they do not protect against infection.
In the delta outbreak in Færder Municipality, for example, seven out of the more than 70 infected people are fully vaccinated. All of them had mild symptoms, municipal chief physician Elin Jacobsen told NTB on Friday.
Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews
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