Dr. Jankovic: Virus has potential to make the situation worse, it's not yet time to relax measures

Photo: Tanjug/Zoran Zestic

Immunologist Srdja Jankovic, a member of the Crisis HQ for the fight against coronavirus, said that the decline and growth in numbers in the last few days is not a real situation, considering that this is a holiday period, but he pointed out that the virus has the potential to make the situation worse.

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He expressed hope that 2021 will be a year of a turnaround, so that Covid 19 will start to subside.

"It's quite difficult to estimate the numbers in the holiday period. This rise and fall is not a real situation. In any case, there is a potential for the situation to get worse," Jankovic told RTS.

Vaccination against the coronavirus is underway in Serbia. He reminded citizens that they can choose which vaccine to receive: Sputnik V, or Pfizer's.

"My position is that every vaccine that has passed clinical trials, all regulatory procedures, which is registered and safe, can be applied," said Jankovic.

Since it is necessary to receive two doses to acquire immunity, he explained that 3 weeks must pass between the two doses, possibly more but not less.

In that sense, he said that it is not yet known how long the immunity lasts after receiving the vaccine, but that he hopes and expects it is a few years.

He also said that it is necessary to vaccinate at least 20 percent of the population in Serbia.

"We don't even know how long natural immunity lasts. There are many unknowns. I think that at this moment it is more important to carry out vaccination. The figure of 20 percent of those vaccinated is tentative, that is the minimum goal. And we hope to vaccinate even more," he said.

Asked what is the right moment for vaccination and whether those who are infected with the virus can receive it, he said that they can, but that in that case, protection is minimum.

"Simply put, there is no benefit or harm in that case. And, it is very much useful that everyone who is not infected or those who have had it are vaccinated," he pointed out.

About Red Star vs. Fenerbahce basketball game

Speaking about the further course of the pandemic in Serbia, he said that he hoped that the epidemic would subside this year.

"It's true that in the spring and summer we had hoped that a smaller wave would be awaiting for us in the fall. It turned out that epidemiologists were right, who indicated that the fall would be worse. This is about a new virus, the fall wave exceeded all pessimistic expectations. It is reminiscent of the second wave of the Spanish fever that was worse than the first. But I hope that the epidemic will subside during this year. At the moment, the situation has not improved significantly enough so that we can talk about easing and relaxing the measures," he said.

Asked to comment on the fact that some people attended the basketball match in Belgrade between Red Star and Fenerbahce, he said that the need for people to participate in activities that are a part of life, including watching sporting events live, is very understandable.

"No one can be condemned for that. But as an immunologist, I am appealing on patience and avoiding risk."

He said that he still stands by saying that he would take off his mask when there are no newly infected people in Serbia, but also no more those with the Covid disease:

"It's a thankless task to predict when that will happen. All I can do is express my hope that 2021 will be a turnaround year."

(Telegraf.rs)