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Public Health England (PHE) has said that it does not recommend mixing COVID-19 vaccines from different providers.
The warning comes as distribution of the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine is due to begin in the UK next week, the second launch after the December launch of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, and both require two doses.
On New Years Eve, the UK government issued guidance for NHS doctors saying that if a person who received their first puncture comes back for their second but the same type is not available, or the first type of vaccine is unknown , then it is “reasonable” to offer a dose of another vaccine.
“This option is preferred if the individual is likely to be at immediate high risk or considered unlikely to attend again,” the guidance adds.
After questions about the risks were raised, Dr. Mary Ramsay, chief of immunizations at PHE, told Sky News that mixing is not recommended and should only occur “on rare occasions.”
“We do not recommend mixing COVID-19 vaccines; if your first dose is the Pfizer vaccine, you should not receive the AstraZeneca vaccine for your second dose and vice versa,” he said.
“There can be extremely rare occasions when the same vaccine is not available, or it is not known which vaccine the patient received.
“Every effort should be made to give them the same vaccine, but when this is not possible, it is better to give a second dose of another vaccine than not to give it.”
