The UK allows mixing of vaccines



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The UK allows mixing of vaccines if one is not available for two doses.Image: Mikael Fritzon / TT

The United Kingdom allows vaccination with different doses of vaccines in cases where the same vaccine is not available for two syringes. This is despite the lack of evidence on how immunity is affected by two doses of different vaccines.

However, this will only happen in rare cases and is not something the government recommends, according to Mary Ramsay, vaccine manager at Public Health England.

– Every effort should be made to give the same vaccine to people. But where it’s not possible, it’s better to give a second dose of another vaccine than nothing, says Mary Ramsay.

The UK has been at the forefront in approving covid-19 vaccines. The country was the first in the world to approve the Pfizer-Biontech and Astra Zeneca vaccines in December. Both vaccines are designed to be given in two doses, several weeks apart.

The UK came out earlier this week with plans to postpone the second dose of the vaccine, to allow more people to get vaccinated.

That was something Anthony Fauci, America’s leading infection control expert, thought was a bad idea.

– I am not in favor of that strategy. We will continue to do what we plan, he tells CNN.

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