What happens if you take two COVID-19 vaccines from two forms..?

2021-07-01 534700

When vaccinating against COVIC- 19, is it appropriate to take the first dose in one form and the second dose in another form..?

This is the question up one which the people of not only in Sri Lanka, but in many countries where vaccines are in short supply, pay attention. The results of a recent test about this question, conducted in the United Kingdom, has just been released. The two forms of vaccines, used in this test were AstraZeneca and Pfizer. This research has proved that getting two different doses of the vaccine, provides better protection against COVID-19.

A Good News for Sri Lanka

This is good news for countries for which getting vaccines is difficult

The test had got three groups involved. One group was given both doses from Pfizer form. The second group was given both doses from AstraZeneca. The third group was given the first dose from one type and the second dose from the other type. The immunity of all these people in the 3rd group has been well improved against COVID.

Another finding of this research suggests that those who got both the vaccine from the same form can get the 3rd from either form to boost the immunity against COVID-19. Commenting on the results of this research, the Chief Medical Officer of the United Kingdom, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, said that this would be good news for countries where vaccination is difficult to obtain.

Some countries are already administering the first and second doses from two forms. Spain and Germany are giving Pfizer or Moderna vaccine as the second dose to young people who have been given the first dose from AstraZeneca vaccine.

The two countries took this step before the release of this research report. The reason was that the AstraZeneca vaccine was reported to increase the risk of blood clots in the body. But experts pointed out that it can happen very rarely.

More antibodies

It is important to get two doses to train the body to fight off the COVID -19 virus and to get complete protection to the body against COVID -19. 850 people aged 50 and over attended the Com- Cov study. They have volunteered for this. They were given the second dose after four weeks of the first dose. This study confirmed that more antibodies were induced in the bodies of those who were vaccinated, Pfizer as the second dose than those who got the both doses from AstraZeneca.

Is a third dose needed..?

Chief researcher of this study Professor Mathew fi of the Oxford University confirmed that the use of AstraZeneca for both doses is not an impact according to this study. "Although both doses were given from the same form at intervals of 8 to 12 weeks, it has reduced the hospitalization of the infected and the criticalness of the disease. The two vaccines are working effectively on the “Delta” variation too.

A third dose..?

The Professor also confirmed that the new study has proven that if two doses from two forms are given within 4 weeks, it will be effective. “It has been witnessed that when both doses are given at longer intervals, the immunity is more better” he further stated.

Meanwhile, the results of another study were released on Monday (June 28). It appears that when the 3rd AstraZeneca dose is given after more than six months, the immunity will be more boosted. But experts say it is still too early to decide whether a third dose is needed. It is not yet clear how immunity against COVID - 19 will fade over time.