Is it worth shortening such a long interval between AstraZeneca vaccinations? Professor Čaplinskas has the answer

Is it debated whether such a gap makes sense? After all, until a person is vaccinated with both doses of the vaccine, they will have to isolate themselves when they return from abroad, and they will have to wait several months for the second dose.

The Delfi portal has already written that Marius Strioga, a doctor of biomedical sciences from the National Cancer Institute, has also been asked about the gap between the doses of two Vaxzevria vaccines.

In the weekly section “Shoulder for Freedom” of the Facebook and YouTube channel of the Ministry of Health, the viewer asked: “I was vaccinated with AstraZeneca on March 5. Is the date of the second vaccination June 5 set correctly? The interval between vaccinations will be 13 weeks. “

Many people who have been vaccinated with the vaccine have raised similar questions, as the gap between vaccines with other vaccines is smaller.

Ms. Strioga then reassured: “Based on the AstraZeneca vaccine studies, it is recommended that a second dose of the vaccine be given 90 days later as the autoimmune response after the first dose begins to weaken.

With [praeis] 12 or 13 weeks: no significant difference. Yes, this is a rational moment and the memory immune response will definitely kick in. Although the ideal would be to do it after 90 days, with an intensive vaccination program, this is not always possible. “

Wouldn’t it be possible to bridge this gap, especially since it causes a lot of inconvenience to people? We asked that question to Professor Saulius Čaplinskas, a specialist in communicable diseases.

“There are several aspects. Studies have shown that we get a good immune response a couple of weeks after a dose of the vaccine, and it stays the same for quite some time. When a second dose is given, that response is further improved and its shelf life is prolonged. In this case, the added value of the second vaccine will be greater the later it is administered, but not too late.

However, it is said in some places that early in certain frames, if I am not mistaken, 14-12 weeks is possible if there are other indications for this, such as approaching a trip or exams. The most important thing is not to miss the second vaccine in any way when it is already recommended, after 12 weeks, but not later, ”explained S. Čaplinskas.

The professor pointed out that even after vaccination, immunity will still weaken one day, so a revaccination will be necessary.

“It stands to reason that the later, but not too late, the second dose is given, the longer immunity will last after that.

This means that the third dose, which is already clearly unavoidable (it will be an immunity-boosting dose), can be given later. A little later, in the course of it, it will be seen if it will be possible to spend 8, 9 or 12 months, “said the interlocutor.

However, why is the gap between the two doses of other vaccines so much smaller? The professor said this is because clinical trials have shown it to be the most effective. The gap depends on both the nature of the vaccine and the platform it is tested on.

When asked if it would be necessary for those vaccinated with two doses of Comirnaty or Moderna to be revaccinated earlier with a third dose due to the shorter interval between them, S. Čaplinskas did not deny that it is likely: “Perhaps in one month or another. It is not clear yet, but booster shots will be required for all vaccines.

Everyone can and will have to control when they need to be revaccinated, depending on how much immunity they retain. The antibody titer will show it better, “said the scientist.