Single Dose Vaccine almost as effective?

[MoirasRoses]

Reading this on the BBC - appreciate the media aren’t always that factual but .. is it true a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine is 91% effective v 95% with two? Because if so, why on earth are we bothering with two doses?!

Read the whole story, not the headline. The effectiveness figures come from a professor who was head of immunisation at DoH.. not just Tony Blair’s mind.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-55410349

Guessing there is maybe just not enough data to be that confident about it maybe?

Because 95 is higher than 91.

Sky's science correspondent Thomas Moore says:

The scientists appearing before the committee of MPs have poured cold water on the idea mooted by former Prime Minister Tony Blair that people receive just one dose of the vaccine.
The idea is you could then give at least some protection to twice as many people as the new variant of the virus spreads.

But Prof Neil Ferguson said the MHRA has given a licence to the vaccine on the basis that people receive two doses. Giving just one would require a new application by the manufacturer.

And Prof Wendy Barclay warned that the immunity – and risk of inadequate protection – from one dose is unknown. Giving a vaccine in a regime that isn’t licensed “would not be ideal”, she said.

It would seem that if that is the difference, the gain of vaccinating twice wouldn't be worth the cost. If everyone had 1 dose, we could double the speed of rollout, therefore greatly increasing the number of people with immunity. I have no idea if those stats are right or not, but if they are, it seems mad to give everyone two doses.

@ElephantWhaleRabbit

Because 95 is higher than 91.

But AstraZeneca is only 70% :(

This was squelched by the NERVTAG scientists. It’s worth looking up their response during the select committee this morning. Absolutely clear that this is not a neat and easy solution.

I wouldn't listen to the world renowned scientist Tony Blair

@Char2015

Sky's science correspondent Thomas Moore says:

The scientists appearing before the committee of MPs have poured cold water on the idea mooted by former Prime Minister Tony Blair that people receive just one dose of the vaccine.
The idea is you could then give at least some protection to twice as many people as the new variant of the virus spreads.

But Prof Neil Ferguson said the MHRA has given a licence to the vaccine on the basis that people receive two doses. Giving just one would require a new application by the manufacturer.

And Prof Wendy Barclay warned that the immunity – and risk of inadequate protection – from one dose is unknown. Giving a vaccine in a regime that isn’t licensed “would not be ideal”, she said.

This

Blair does keep wading in though

A close relative of mine (hcp) recently had their first Pfizer jab and contracted covid a week later. Really unlucky.

@LindaEllen

It would seem that if that is the difference, the gain of vaccinating twice wouldn't be worth the cost. If everyone had 1 dose, we could double the speed of rollout, therefore greatly increasing the number of people with immunity. I have no idea if those stats are right or not, but if they are, it seems mad to give everyone two doses.

But as pointed out above, the vaccine has been licenced on the basis of a 2 dose regime. It would require an entirely new application to get it approved for 1 dose. I'd imagine they'd be opening themselves up to legal challenges if they gave one dose only.

And the only place I want to hear from Tony Blair ever again is from the dock of the war crimes tribunal in The Hague.

Blair was eying with his first suggestion now wrong with this one. His air time should be taken away. Ex politician naughty step

Wrong

Very useful antibody data on why older people really must have two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, not one. Under 55s might be able to get away with one dose, or delaying the second dose, but older people need two.
mobile.twitter.com/DrCJ_Houldcroft/status/1341730098941218816

Covid-19: Pfizer vaccine efficacy was 52% after first dose and 95% after second dose:
www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4826

www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-comments-made-by-tony-blair-suggesting-we-should-consider-using-all-available-vaccine-doses-in-january-as-first-doses-rather-than-keeping-some-back-for-use-as-second-doses/

There was a public health doctor on Jeremy Vine's radio two show recently who said that if he was in charge of policy he would aim to give as many people a first dose as possible as quickly as possible and then do a second dose whenever supplies/infrastructure allow. He was of the view that there was a bigger gain from more people having a less effective vaccination in the short term.

It is an interesting suggestion.