Mix-and-match approach boosts immune response of AstraZeneca shot, study finds

Alistair Smout, Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/06/29/vaccination.jpg"/><figcaption>People queue outside a mass vaccination centre for those aged 18 and over at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, amid the pandemic, in London June 20, 2021. <em>Henry Nicholls, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>LONDON—A mixed schedule of vaccines where a shot of Pfizer&#x27;s COVID-19 vaccine is given four weeks after an AstraZeneca shot will produce better immune responses than giving another dose of AstraZeneca, an Oxford study said on Monday.</p><p>The study, called Com-COV, compared mixed two-dose schedules of Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines, and found that in any combination, they produced high concentrations of antibodies against the coronavirus spike protein.</p><p>The data provides support for the decision of some European countries that have started offering alternatives to AstraZeneca as a second shot after the vaccine was linked to rare blood clots.</p><p>Matthew Snape, the Oxford professor behind the trial, said that the findings could be used to give flexibility to vaccine rollouts, but was not large enough to recommend a broader shift away from clinically approved schedules on its own. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/06/28/21/delayed-doses-of-astrazeneca-jab-boost-immunity-study">Delayed doses of AstraZeneca jab boost immunity: study</a></li></ul><p>&quot;It&#x27;s certainly encouraging that these antibody and T-cell responses look good with the mixed schedules,&quot; he told reporters.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/28/21/insidente-ng-naturukan-pero-di-nabakunahan-iniimbestigahan">Insidente ng &#x27;naturukan pero di nabakunahan,&#x27; iniimbestigahan</a></li></ul><p>&quot;But I think your default has to stay, unless there&#x27;s a very good reason otherwise, to what is proven to work,&quot; he added referring to the same-shot vaccine schedules assessed in clinical trials.</p><p>The highest antibody response was seen in people receiving two doses of Pfizer vaccine, with both mixed schedules producing better responses than two doses of AstraZeneca vaccine.</p><p>An AstraZeneca shot followed by Pfizer produced the best T-cell responses, and also a higher antibody response than Pfizer followed by AstraZeneca.</p><p>The results were for combinations of vaccines given at four-week intervals to 830 participants.</p><p>Com-COV is also looking at mixed schedules over a 12-week interval, and Snape noted that AstraZeneca&#x27;s shot was known to produce a better immune response with a longer interval between doses.</p><p>In Britain, officials have suggested an 8-week gap between vaccine doses for over-40s and a 12-week gap for other adults.</p><p>&quot;Given the UK’s stable supply position there is no reason to change vaccine schedules at this moment in time,&quot; England&#x27;s Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van-Tam said, adding that the data on a 12-week interval would influence future decisions on the rollout program.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/22/21/doj-on-duterte-threat-vaccination-not-a-crime-arrest">Refusing vaccination not a crime, says DOJ after Duterte threat</a></li></ul><p>Over 80% of adults in Britain have now received one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 60% have had two shots. <strong>(Reporting by Alistair Smout; editing by Michael Holden, Guy Faulconbridge and Gareth Jones)</strong></p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/21/21/doh-several-pinoys-infected-with-covid-19-despite-full-vaccination">DOH: Several Pinoys infected with COVID-19 despite full vaccination</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1715988" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>The data provides support for the decision of some European countries that have started offering alternatives to AstraZeneca as a second shot after the vaccine was linked to rare blood clots.</p>

The data provides support for the decision of some European countries that have started offering alternatives to AstraZeneca as a second shot after the vaccine was linked to rare blood clots.

Mix-and-match approach boosts immune response of AstraZeneca shot, study finds

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Mix-and-match approach boosts immune response of AstraZeneca shot, study finds

Alistair Smout,

Reuters

Published Jun 29, 2021 06:50 AM PHT

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COVID-19

COVID pandemic

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