Researchers tried mixing two doses of Pfizer and AstraZeneca in a variety of combinations and discovered that all the combinations worked effectively in preparing the immune system, offering flexibility for vaccine rollout in the future, say experts.?
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Reported first by Reuters, the study involved 850 volunteers that offered the doses four weeks apart in volunteers aged above 50, and the discoveries that followed were rather astonishing.
They found that individuals who received AstraZeneca doses at the beginning followed by a second Pfizer dose induced a higher antibody count and T cell responses when compared with Pfizer as the first dose followed by a second AstraZeneca.
However, despite this, both the mixes developed higher antibody levels compared to two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The highest antibody response was witnessed after two doses of Pfizer with the highest T Cell response in the AstraZeneca-Pfizer combination.
According to the lead investigator, Professor Matthew Snape, from the University of Oxford, the findings don¡¯t really undermine the results of giving the same jab twice.?
He said, ¡°We already know that both standard schedules are very effective against severe disease and hospitalisations, including against the Delta variant when given at eight to 12 weeks apart.¡±
He reveals that the new results reveal that mixing the doses was also safe and effective, even though the trials looked at four weeks of interval whereas in the UK the recommendation for the interval between doses is eight to twelve weeks. According to Snape, the longer interval helps to develop a better immune response.
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"Given the UK¡¯s stable supply position there is no reason to change vaccine schedules at this moment in time," England's Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van-Tam added while stating that the data on a 12-week interval would also impact future decisions on the rollout programme.
As of now, 80 percent of adults in the UK have been administered at least one jab of the COVID-19 vaccine, whereas 60 percent of individuals have revealed two jabs.