The members of the Scientific Advisory Board
THE HEAD OF THE SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
Professor of Cell Biology of the University of Tartu Toivo Maimets. The new composition of the scientific council will be approved soon.
THE MEMBERS OF THE SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
- Mait Altmets, the head of the Infection Control Department and the senior doctor at the North Estonia Medical Centre;
- Jaanus Harro, a professor of psychophysiology at the University of Tartu;
- Ruth Kalda, a professor of family medicine and the director of the Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of Tartu;
- Pärt Peterson, a professor of molecular immunology and the director of the Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine at the University of Tartu;
- Margus Varjak, an associate professor of virology at the University of Tartu;
- Triin Vihalemm, a professor of communication studies at the University of Tartu.
Overview of scientific literature regarding COVID
Outtakes from the international scientific articles that the Scientific Advisory Board has used as resources. A practical research results based recommendation on how to behave in the circumstances where the Omicron variant of the virus is spreading quickly has been added. There is also a reference to the original source where the presented information is coming from.
14.01.2022
According to the current data, in 16% of the cases the Omicron variant can also transfer from asymptomatic infected people. This means that the probability of infecting someone without being aware of it yourself is currently six times higher than it was with the Delta variant during the previous wave.
It is thus very important to be extremely careful when planning meetings. The risks should be considered especially thoroughly if you are intending to meet acquaintances and relatives who are elderly or who belong to risk groups for other reasons. If possible, the physical meetings with people in risk groups should be postponed for some time and the possibilities offered by virtual channels used instead.
Original reference:
21.01.2022
The vaccines currently in use help to avoid severe infection with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus as well, regardless of the fact that they have been developed based on other virus variants. The “defensive line” of antibodies is, indeed, vulnerable with Omicron, as the Omicron virus has many mutations. Long-term and severe suffering is avoided with the help of another “defensive line” of the organism – T-cells that are better at recognizing the mutated virus than antibodies are. Vaccination helps to raise cell-mediated immunity and avoid severe infections. The effectiveness of T-cells, i.e. cell-mediated immunity is also supported by the fact that, due to its specificity, the Omicron virus “stops” in the upper respiratory tract and does not invade the lungs as Delta does.
Original reference:
14.01.2022
The best protection against Omicron is achieved by three vaccine doses or two vaccine doses along with recovery. Recovery without vaccination gives fewer Omicron-neutralising antibodies. According to current data, a booster shot defends up to 60% of people from symptomatic infection, unfortunately the protective abilities of the vaccine decrease over time.
Two vaccine doses or previous recovery protect only 20% of people from symptomatic infection.
However, both 2-dose and 3-dose vaccination protect 60-70% of people from having to be hospitalised. Even if hospitalisation is necessary, the duration of hospital treatment is shorter than for people who are not vaccinated.
The Scientific Advisory Board thus recommends that all who can protect themselves by vaccinating.
Original references:
- https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mrc-global-infectious-disease-analysis/covid-19/report-49-Omicron/
- https://www.pure.ed.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/245818096/Severity_of_Omicron_variant_of_concern_and_vaccine_effectiveness_against_symptomatic_disease.pdf
- https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.30.21268565v1.full.pdf
- https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1045619/Technical-Briefing-31-Dec-2021-Omicron_severity_update.pdf
14.01.2022
At gatherings of people, the infection risk is the smallest if everyone in the room – including vaccinated people and those who have recovered from the coronavirus – wear a medical mask that covers both the mouth and the nose.
If possible, the risk groups, i.e. people over the age of 65 and those suffering from chronic diseases, should use the N95 type masks with a higher protection factor at meetings that last for several hours.
If the contacts are short, a surgical mask along with keeping a distance and frequent hand washing offers sufficient protection from infection as well.
Original references:
14.01.2022
It is possible to get Omicron repeatedly, and repeat infection is more probable with the Omicron variant than it was with previous variants where recovery gave a relatively good protection from further infection. Still, the progression of the disease is milder with a repeat infection than with the initial infection.
It is thus necessary to stay vigilant even after recovery from Omicron and follow all precautions in order to not transmit the infection. It is especially necessary to take care when coming into contact with the elderly, people suffering from chronic diseases, and those who have not been vaccinated.
Original references:
21.01.2022
Pregnant women can suffer very severely from the coronavirus and the mother’s infection also endangers the foetus. Studies have shown that pregnant women who have been infected with the coronavirus have a significantly higher risk of premature labour and stillbirth.
The vaccination of pregnant women has raised doubts but studies show that vaccination during pregnancy is safe for both the mother and the child. The antibodies created after vaccination penetrate the placenta and give a good protection to the newborn. Scientific studies encompassing more than 65,000 pregnant women have found no proof that the risk of complications, miscarriage, premature labour or foetal harm would increase after vaccination with an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Studies also showed that the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of pregnant women being hospitalised and dying at the same rate as of those who are not pregnant.
Original references:
The Scientific Advisory Board
- evaluates the epidemiological situation in Estonia and in the world;
- keeps the Government informed about the latest scientific research;
- evaluates enacting and easing possible restrictions based on an epidemiological and clinical point of view, and makes recommendations to the Government for possible decisions. The decisions about restrictions and measures are taken by the government;
- represents Estonia at the regular meetings of the European Union virology experts.
The recommendations of the Scientific Advisory Board to the Government are based on the following information:
- international studies and research;
- the statistics of the Health Board on the number of infections and people in need of hospital treatment, and prognostic models based on this data;
- The University of Tartu study "Detecting coronavirus in waste water", the results of which are published on a weekly basis. It is possible to see the waste water study and its results on the web page of the University of Tartu https://www.ut.ee/en/research/detecting-coronavirus-waste-water;
- The University of Tartu study "The prevalence of coronavirus in Estonia" that uses cross-sectional research to evaluate the actual prevalence of the coronavirus and the progress of the epidemic in Estonia. It is possible to see the study and its results on the web page of the University of Tartu https://www.ut.ee/en/research/study-prevalence-coronavirus-estonia.
- A regular study ordered in cooperation between the Government Office and the Ministry of Social Affairs that maps the attitudes and behaviour of the population in relation to the COVID-19 epidemic. The results of the regular study can be seen on the web page of the Government Office https://riigikantselei.ee/uuringud (in Estonian).
Related links
Last updated: 16.01.2023
