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In recent days, two ways have been launched to boost the vaccination campaign against COVID-19 in the EU. From the highest level in the Czech Republic came a proposal to “squeeze” the vaccine vials Pfizer (Pfizer) and “Biotech” (BioNTech). In Belgium, they are considering diluting the vaccination between the two doses.
The goal is one: large-scale vaccination in the first three months of 2021.
As we wrote above, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has proposed to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to quickly allow six vaccines with one vial of the vaccine instead of the five regulated ones. Thus, according to the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, the EU countries will be able to increase the doses of the vaccine by 20%. Grandma called in US practice, where the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that it is acceptable to use any full dose (sixth, or possibly even seventh) from each vial.
In turn, the Belgian health authorities announced today that they are considering a change to the national immunization plan against COVID-19 – based on expert opinions. It is recommended that only one dose of the Pfizer vaccine be given initially, rather than two. The objective is to immunize twice as many people in a context of shortage of the necessary quantities of the vaccine.
Experts explain that one dose creates protection for about six months. The second dose can be given no earlier than 21 days and no later than a few months after the first injection. Thus, the extension of the time between the two vaccinations will serve for a greater immunization before the summer months.
“Dilution” was also recommended due to the discovery of new mutations in the coronavirus.
And this approach is borrowed from across the ocean, and is already being applied in the Canadian province of Quebec.
