Can COVID-19 vaccines be mixed and matched?



[ad_1]

Can COVID-19 vaccines be mixed and matched?

Health officials say both doses should be of the same vaccine.

COVID-19 vaccines rolled out in the US, UK and other parts of the world so far require two injections a few weeks apart.

BIDEN LAUNCHES PUBLIC HEALTH EMPLOYMENT CORPS, HOST OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS TO RESPOND TO COVID-19

In the United States, where the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are distributed, health officials say the vaccines are not interchangeable. In England, where injections of Pfizer and AstraZeneca are available, officials also say doses should be consistent.

But in the rare event that the same type of vaccine is not available or it is not known what was given for the first vaccine, UK officials say it is acceptable to give the vaccine available for the second vaccine. Since the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines work the same way, they say that the wrong dose is better than partial protection.

STATES REPORT COVID-19 VACCINE SHORTAGES, VOID APPOINTMENTS

But without any studies, vaccine doses should not be mixed, said Naor Bar-Zeev, a vaccine expert at Johns Hopkins University.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

If people get a different vaccine for their second shot by accident, Bar-Zeev said it “will likely work well and be probably well tolerated,” but evidence is needed to be sure.

[ad_2]

Source link