UK chief medical officers defend delay of second Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine doses
The UK’s chief medical officers have defended a decision to delay second doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in order to prioritize first doses, saying it will protect as many vulnerable people as possible while the coronavirus is running rampant.
The new strategy, announced Wednesday by the head of the UK’s medicines regulator MHRA, means that the interval between doses could be extended to up to 12 weeks, instead of the three weeks previously stipulated.
It has prompted a debate among experts, with the British Medical Association (BMA), a body representing UK doctors, criticizing the move to postpone appointments for the very vulnerable patients currently awaiting their second shots.
Just three days ago, Matt Hancock was basking in the glory of Oxford University s astonishing achievement.
As its world-beating vaccine won approval from regulators, the Health Secretary toured the TV and radio studios, predicting that Britain s coronavirus crisis would finally be over by Easter.
After all, ministers had ordered 100million doses of the game-changer AstraZeneca vaccine, much more user-friendly than the Pfizer version already given to one million Britons.
And Alok Sharma, the Business Secretary, assured us way back in May that 30million doses would be on the shelves by September, ready for roll-out as soon as it had that crucial clearance.
The U.K. s chief medical officers have defended a decision to delay second doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in order to prioritize first doses, saying it will protect as many vulnerable people as possible while the coronavirus is running rampant. The new strategy, announced Wednesday by the head of the U.K. s medicines regulator MHRA, means that the interval between doses could be extended to up to 12 weeks, instead of the three weeks previously stipulated. It has prompted a debate among experts, with the British Medical Association (BMA), a body representing UK doctors, criticizing the move to postpone appointments for the very vulnerable patients currently awaiting their second shots.
Delaying second Covid jab dose will cause huge problems for partially-vaccinated elderly and vulnerable, GP leaders warn
31 Dec 2020, 17:36
Updated: 31 Dec 2020, 17:36
DELAYING the second dose Covid vaccine dose will cause huge problem for those who have been partially-vaccinated, GP leaders have warned.
Regulators outlined a new dosing regimen following the approval of the Oxford vaccine yesterday - aimed at speeding up the roll-out.
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A man receives a dose of the Pfizer vaccine at a drive-thru jab centre in ManchesterCredit: Reuters
Experts advising the Government, including the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), said that the focus should be on giving at-risk people the first dose of whichever vaccine they receive, rather than providing the required two doses in as short a time as possible.
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