Immunologist: The prototype of Bulgarian vaccine against coronavirus will be ready by New Year

Bulgarian scientists continue to work on a vaccine against the coronavirus. The prototype will be ready by the New Year, then we are ready for clinical trials, Assoc. Prof. Penka Petrova, Director of the Institute of Microbiology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences told BNT breakfast show on October 7..

According to her, whether the Bulgarian vaccine will be cheaper depends on the production capacity and the extent to which the state will engage in production. That is why science should be supported regularly, because in the event of a new pandemic we will be able to react adequately, explained Assoc. Prof. Petrova.

Our protein vaccine is focused on the genome and should work against all strains.

The Russian and Astra Zeneca vaccines are currently being tested, and the results are very encouraging for both, the scientist said.

The increase in the number of people infected with coronavirus in Bulgaria recently is due to the relaxed measures and that the children started school. The virus currently mutates at a lower rate than it spreads.

We can conclude that it is more contagious but less deadly.

At the moment, Bulgaria is in the orange zone of Europe and there is no reason to be worried, these are the levels from July, she added.

Scientists continue to study the genomes of the virus, and it has been found that there are about 1,200 mutations in 12,000 different ones. Every tenth virus has mutated, but the trend is towards less deadly strains.

The same strains predominate in Europe and in Bulgaria

According to her, in order to prevent it, it is advisable to change our diet. It has been found that selenium deficiency in the body creates a higher risk of fatal disease.

In Bulgaria, however, there are no severe selenium deficiencies, as selenium is found in traditional Bulgarian foods, such as cereals - wheat, oats, rye.

Nuts such as Brazil nuts as well as seafood are highly recommended. Our body also needs antioxidants, so it is necessary to take enough vitamin C and vitamin D.

If one in 10 people has had the coronavirus, it means they have antibodies. It is necessary to monitor the level of antibodies in order to know how it can be counteracted, according to Assoc. Prof. Petrova.

It turns out that some of the medicines that people with underlying health conditions take on a regular basis actually provoke the coronavirus, which is why these people are such a risk group.

Sofia residents follow the measures best - you can see masks everywhere in the shops and in indoor places, the associate professor added.

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