A new test in the UK is set to quiz the efficacy of giving people a “ mix - and - mates ” of COVID-19 vaccines , using the first dose of one vaccinum firebrand and the second dose of a different brand . The project seek to answer the electrocution question of whether it ’s safe and effective to use compounding of COVID-19 vaccines inthe event of forgetful supplying .
TheCOVID-19 Heterologous Prime Booststudy , or " Com - Cov " , tend by the National Immunisation Schedule Evaluation Consortium , will recruit 820 masses over the age of 50 who have not yet had a vaccinum from eight unlike sites across the UK .
Four unlike combinations of two vaccinum will be tested : a first dose of the Oxford - AstraZeneca vaccine followed by boost with the Pfizer vaccine ; a first dose of the Pfizer vaccine followed by advance with either the Oxford - AstraZeneca vaccinum ; a twofold Oxford - AstraZeneca vaccinum ; or a bivalent Pfizer vaccinum . All four of these combination will be measure with two different dosing schedules : at a 4 - week interval to conglomerate former interim data and at a 12 - hebdomad separation . Blood samples will be have over time to value the patient ’s antibody response and any contrary reaction will be take down .
“ If we do show that these vaccinum can be used interchangeably in the same schedule this will greatly increase the flexibility of vaccine delivery , and could provide hint as to how to increase the breadth of protective covering against new computer virus strains , ” Matthew Snape , Associate Professor in Paediatrics and Vaccinology at the University of Oxford and Chief Investigator on the trial , said in astatement .
While the US Centers for Disease Control and Preventionhas saidthat pass COVID-19 vaccines in the US “ are not interchangeable , ” Public Health England ( PHE)has maintainedthat different vaccines can be mix in " extremely rare " circumstances . Dr Mary Ramsay , PHE ’s head of immunisation , toldBBC Newswhere the sword of an initial jab is unsung or the same one not available , it is " well to give a second dose of another vaccine than not at all . “The new run hopes to settle some of these concerns and show whether a combination of different vaccines is a safe and effective means to protect against the transmission .
In fact , some scientists are hopeful that a combination of unlike vaccinum might in reality prove to be even more effective than vex to one thanks to something known as heterologic boosting .
“ We have witness that theSputnik vaccineuses a form of heterologous boosting – it is a transmitter vaccine , and the vector is unlike for the two battery-acid . This seems to have been done partly out of fear that the resistant system might accredit the transmitter virus used , reduce the efficacy of the booster dose,”explainedDr Peter English , Consultant in Communicable Disease Control and Immediate past Chair of the BMA Public Health Medicine Committee .
" contribute the inevitable challenges of immunising large Book of Numbers of the universe against COVID-19 and likely global supplying constraints , there are definite reward to take information that could support a more pliable immunization computer program , if needed and if approved by the medicine governor , " Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Senior Responsible Officer for the unexampled study Professor Jonathan Van - Tamsaid .
" This field will give us slap-up insight into how we can habituate vaccinum to stay on top of this nasty disease . "
For more information about COVID-19 , arrest out theIFLScience COVID-19 hubwhere you could keep abreast the current state of the pandemic , the progression of vaccine development , and further perceptiveness into the disease .
