Vaccine Mixing

[Mincepie5]

My elderly father is due to have the Pfizer vaccine tomorrow. Now that the Oxford vaccine is here, I’m wondering if the Pfizer vaccine will still be an option in the future, being difficult to store and more expensive.

Public Health England doesn’t recommend mixing the vaccines, so in a future round of vaccinations, would the Oxford vaccine be an option if you’ve had the Pfizer previously?

Should he wait for the Oxford vaccine or have the Pfizer tomorrow? Ideally, I’d rather get him protected ASAP but wondering about future rounds of the vaccine.

I'd go for a vacc at the soonest opportunity. Worry about the second dose later on. Get him protected, you don't want to regret delaying it!

No, definitely get him to have the one tomorrow, the Pfizer one is apparently 90% effective after first dose, the Oxford one is lower. The government will have orders for the follow up ones.

Don’t cancel, you may not get another for a few weeks.

Right now he's unprotected and is bring offered some protection. I wouldnt gamble with that personally.

Quite a few established expert scientists (epidemiologists, immunologists) have made statements on the delaying of doses and mixing vaccines - far safer to have the first dose without delay for both the individual and the wider community.

Wishing your dad well!

Thanks for your thoughts on this. I will take him for the Pfizer tomorrow.