Covid Vaccine, Time Between Doses

[joko]

my mum had her shot the other day but apparently the other shot is not until april.

ive read in a few places that its supposed to be about 3 weeks later - how come its months away?
is this a different one to the one they have in america or something?

thanks

[barry1010]

11 weeks between the two for us. I was told it's because they want to get the first dose to as many people as possible as quick as possible

[KARL]

The quick explanation is that the UK is conducting an experiment (on its population) and doing away with the manufacturers' recommendations (around 3 weeks between the two doses). This, so far as I know, is unique worldwide and nobody knows whether this practice will have an effect on efficacy beyond 3 weeks or so, or then what kind of effect.

[bhg481]

Look at it this way, joko. If there were only 2 doses available, would you prefer for you to have 1 now and 1 in 3 weeks' time with none for your partner or both of you have 1 dose now, giving you about 60% efficacy?

[woofgang]

Most of the protection comes from the first dose.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prioritising-the-first-covid-19-vaccine-dose-jcvi-statement/optimising-the-covid-19-vaccination-programme-for-maximum-short-term-impact

[TonyV]

Even when it's my turn to get vaccine, I will still be self isolating as much as possible. No vaccine is 100% effective.

[bednobs]

blimey Joko have you not seen the news or read a paper this year?

[KARL]

So far as I am aware, justification for the unorthodox practice comes only from those who decided on it, i.e. exclusively UK sources. Others variously continue silently with the recommended practice only or are outright opposed to and criticise the move.

[bhg481]

KARL - Are you saying you would prefer to wait an extra 9 weeks before getting your 1st injection so that you could have the second one 3 weeks later?

[woofgang]

excellent point bhg

[pastafreak]

I'd rather they followed the protocol for which there is data showing efficacy. There is none for the 12 week window. Last I read, no trial had been done based on that time frame. I do find that a bit worrying.

[bobbinwales]

Am struggling to see the downside of this Karl. Am not sure its teh manufacturers recommendation other than that is what they used for there trials? If Professor Van Tam and his colleague's are happy with it am happy . The second one is a top up only. Having one quicker can only help not harm. Yes if they find the second dose is slightly less effective after 12 weeks then next time round they can change the timescales but for now its much better to get twice as many with a first dose as fast as possable, and before we run out because the EU takes the shots we've contracted to buy

[pastafreak]

If government scientists consulted with the scientists who both developed and tested the vaccine, then I'd be more willing to accept their decision. But as far as I know, that's not the case.

[bobbinwales]

Am happy to take it on this basis rather than wait a lot longer for the first dose. A heard all the 'goverment scientists ' explanations and they satisfied me. Those that dont want a gap will after decline there first jab until there happy with the time interval or discuss it with there GP and decide

[bobbinwales]

woofgangs link explains it well

[KARL]

What I prefer is to stick to the known criteria and the associated facts, with whatever declared limitations there are to that knowledge. I realise others will have their personal motives for choosing to ignore the strict science. I do not operate on wishful thinking nor do I respond well to flattering suggestions of a bonus windfall if I just trust the salesman (".....feel the width....").

[woofgang]

KARL, so would you postpone your first vaccine dose in order to get the second one 3 weeks later?

If it was just politicians standing up and saying this then I might be dubious but when Chris Whitty, Jonathan Van Tam and Patrick Vallance are prepared to put their reputations on the line then I am prepared to go along with the advice.

[KARL]

I am not clamouring for an injection on a dubious premise - it is quite evident that, by waiting until I get mine as per the "orthodox" way, I will be doing someone else's mental health a favour and I will not fret as to what good it will otherwise serve him/her. No doubt I will get an inoculation in a satisfactory manner at some stage - yes, I will wait for that (sometime this year ?).

[Peter Pedant]

this has been covered many times in other threads
no new points arise

butter bread - if you scrape on scrape off then you can make the lump of butter last twice as long ( but quality suffers)

I dont hang with Karls statement that this is the first time in the history of medicine that people have had one jab instead of two

You can measure the effect or lack of it , in the second jab by looking at the proportion vaccinated who are being admitted to hospital. with 5m doses given there is more than enought people to test whether one dose only has an effect and what the size is ( of the effect that is you naughty boy!)

[Peter Pedant]

oh they have
looked at admissions following vaccination

. Based on the timing of cases accrued in the phase 3 study, most of the vaccine failures in the period between doses occurred shortly after vaccination, suggesting that short-term protection from dose 1 is very high from day 10 after vaccination.

In the New England trial virtually no one gets it after ten days

[KARL]

Peter, I don't claim to know what effect the "special" approach has - but then nobody else does either. Once it has been properly investigated we can all come to our own choices, until then I'll stick with the most informed information, even though it too is imperfect.