Germany plans to delay second COVID-19 vaccine, Denmark approves delay

BERLIN / COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – Germany was reflecting on Monday whether to allow a delay in the administration of a second dose of BioNTech and Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to push scarce supplies further, after a Britain’s similar decision last week.

Meanwhile, Denmark on Monday approved a delay of up to six weeks between the first and second injections of the vaccine.

In Berlin, the health ministry was seeking the advice of an independent vaccination commission on whether to delay a second shot beyond the current maximum limit of 42 days, according to a one-page document seen by Reuters on Monday.

The move came amid criticism from Health Minister Jens Spahn – including his conservative political allies – that Germany has failed to secure enough vaccines and has been too slow to step up its nationwide campaign vaccination.

Spahn told his Christian Democratic Union in a closed-door meeting Monday that he hoped to offer vaccinations by this summer to everyone in Germany, once the vaccines have gained regulatory approval, according to sources present.

Some German health experts have hailed Britain’s decision to delay the administration of a second dose of the BioNTech / Pfizer vaccine, which comes as governments attempt to provide protection from the coronavirus to as many people as possible. people possible by kicking them and delaying a second.

“Given the current scarcity of vaccines and the huge number of infections and hospitalizations (in Germany), a strategy in which as many people as possible are vaccinated as early as possible is more effective,” said Leif- Erik Sander, head of the vaccine research team at the Charité Hospital in Berlin.

However, BioNTech and Pfizer pointed out in a joint statement a lack of test data to support the postponement of the second dose.

“The safety and efficacy of the vaccine has not been evaluated over different dosing regimens, as the majority of trial participants received the second dose within the window specified in the study design,” said companies, referring to a leading injection and a three administered booster. weeks apart.

“There is no evidence that protection after the first dose is maintained after 21 days.”

The European Medicines Agency said that a maximum interval of 42 days between the first and second vaccines of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine should be observed to achieve full protection.

According to the latest daily update from the Robert Koch Institute, Germany has vaccinated around 239,000 people since the start of its campaign on December 27 – well below the 1.3 million doses delivered at the end of 2020.

By comparison, Britain has administered more than a million COVID-19 vaccines so far, more than the rest of Europe combined, said Health Minister Matt Hancock.

DANISH DISPLACEMENT

The Danish Health Authority will allow up to six weeks to wait before giving a second dose, its chief Soren Brostrom told local Ritzau newswire on Monday, after reviewing vaccine data.

But Brostrom said the original guidelines to wait only three to four weeks should be followed whenever possible.

“If you go away for more than six weeks, we can’t see the scientific evidence that you’re protected for sure. Therefore, we cannot recommend this, ”added Brostrom.

As of Monday, a total of 46,975 Danes had received the first Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, mostly from health workers and the elderly.

Although a longer interval between injections has not been tested in clinical trials, some scientists have said it is a reasonable plan given the extraordinary circumstances.

The European Union’s approval of a Moderna vaccine, slated for this week, is expected to add an additional 1.5 million doses in the coming weeks, the German health ministry’s document said.

In total, Germany, which has a population of around 83 million, is expected to receive 50 million doses of Moderna this year in EU-wide public procurement.

Regarding the AstraZeneca vaccine approved by Britain last week, Germany’s health ministry said the European Medicines Agency’s continued review was under “high pressure”.

“The goal is, as soon as possible, to decide on the way forward and the scope of approval” for the AstraZeneca vaccine, the document said.