The American pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. said it has no data to establish that a single dose of its Covid-19 vaccine would provide protection against the virus after more than 21 days, undermining the observation of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) of the UK. The UK government announced a new immunization strategy after the committee recommended inoculating as many people as possible with the first dose before offering others the second dose.
In its notice published Wednesday, the JCVI said that to maximize the benefits of the short-term vaccination program, the second dose of AstraZeneca’s vaccine can be offered 4 to 12 weeks after the first dose. In addition, he stated that the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine can be offered 3 to 12 weeks after the first dose.
“The Pfizer and BioNTech Phase 3 study for the Covid-19 vaccine was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the vaccine following a schedule of 2 doses, separated by 21 days,” Pfizer said in a statement, adding that there is no data to show that protection after the first dose is maintained after 21 days.
Read also | The UK will follow a new immunization strategy for the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. All you need to know
Pfizer’s statement comes after the head of the UK drug regulator Dr June Raine said the updated guide for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine allows for a “potentially longer interval” than previously recommended. The pharmaceutical giant has urged the UK health authorities to remain vigilant when introducing different dosage regimens. Pfizer emphasized that it is important to conduct surveillance efforts at alternate hours.
Meanwhile, the Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine, AZD1222. Phase 3 trials of AZD1222 against SARS-CoV-2 in two different dose regimens showed an average efficacy of 70.4%, with no hospitalizations or serious illness observed in the vaccinated groups from three weeks after the first dose. UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the approval was “good news for everyone” due to its cost and storage feasibility.
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