Covid trial in UK examines mixing different vaccines

[Jm954]

A UK trial has been launched to see if giving people different Covid vaccines for their first and second doses works as well as the current approach of using the same type of vaccine twice.

The idea is to provide more flexibility with vaccine rollout and help deal with any potential disruption to supplies.

Scientists say mixing jabs could also possibly give even better protection.

The vaccines minister said no changes would be made to the UK's current approach until at least the summer.

Currently, official guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) says anyone already given the Pfizer-BioNTech or Oxford-AstraZeneca jab as part of the UK's approved immunisation programme should get the same vaccine for both doses.

There is no suggestion this will change, although in very rare circumstances a different vaccine can be used - if only one vaccine is available, or it's not known which was given for the first dose.

The study will be recruiting people aged 50 or older, who have not yet received a Covid vaccine, in London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Nottingham, Bristol, Oxford and Southampton.

Some will receive the Oxford jab followed by the Pfizer vaccine or vice versa, four or 12 weeks apart

The chief investigator, Prof Matthew Snape from the University of Oxford, said the "tremendously exciting study" would provide information vital for vaccine rollouts in the UK and globally.

While this study was initially designed to provide greater flexibility for vaccine rollouts, there is the tantalising possibility that mixing vaccines could provide even better, longer-lasting protection.

The hope is that by mixing up jabs, this will allow our immune systems to focus more fully on building up protection against coronavirus.

This is the link to sign up if you wish to take part and haven't yet had your vaccine

nhs.uk/conditions/coronavir...

Jackie

[Reddg]

Thank you for this. My partner has now volunteered.