Second vaccine - optimum gap?

[Warhertisuff]

Following a spate of people getting their second jabs after 4 weeks (which is line with pretty much every other country and manufacturers' guidelines), a Government scientist is advising that the gap between 1st and 2nd jabs should be no less than 8 weeks as that provides optimum longer-lasting protection.

Firstly, how can they really know about longer lasting protection since jabs have only been administered in the past few months. Even if they do, it would be useful to know the evidence behind it. Whether the gain was marginal or significant.

Secondly, what we do know is that the first jab isn't enough for strong protection though, so this advice is putting people at extra risk for a month longer than they could be...

Even if delaying the second jab does give some more lasting protection, does this compensate for the extra risk of being just single-dosed for an extra month? If the Government are stilll advising an 8 week gap, they should at least provide the evidence to support it.

This is the reason scientist & the govmt are pushing the 8 week gap, it’s a supply issue more than anything. See attached.

Let’s look at Israel - Pfizer 3 weeks apart. 0-2 deaths a week, cases in the 200-300’s. Fully open.

UAE - Pfizer 3 weeks apart. Cases in the 1000-3000. Deaths around 6 a day.

US - Pfizer & Moderna 3 weeks apart. A far more complex picture as vaccine uptake varies wildly by State but let’s take NY where it’s been high. Fully open. Cases in the 500’s, deaths averaging at 10 a day.

So, I really don’t think the 3 week gap isn’t working. In fact, it’s doing really well. But in the U.K., we are so different that in our bodies, we need an 8 week gap.. OK 😂

There was a study looking at dosage gaps done in the 80+ year olds. A longer gap between Pfizer doses showed a better immune response in them & notes this is likely due to the much slower immune response in the elderly.

www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2021/05/covid-pfizer-vaccination-interval-antibody-response.aspx

@Bobholll

I understand the supply issue, but to dress it up a medically driven seems disingenuous unless solid evidence is provided.