3-month gap between Oxford’s COVID-19 doses more effective: Lancet

The popular weekly general medical journal, ‘The Lancet’, has revealed that the COVID-19 vaccine developed by The University of Oxford and AstraZeneca PLC, is more effective with a three-month gap between the first and second dose rather than the six-week gap recommended by the U.S. CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

If sources are to be believed, the study published in the journal has estimated that the first dose of the vaccine can offer up to 76% protection for three months. The journal also suggests that the interval between the doses can safely be extended to three months by the government, for immunizing more people in the gap period.

The lead author of the study, Andrew Pollard was reported saying that policymakers must propose the best dosage delivery procedures to achieve utmost public health benefit as vaccine supply is expected to be limited initially. The second dose is highly recommended, in the long term, as should facilitate a long-lasting immune response, he added.

Reportedly, the team of researchers combined the data of around 17,178 adult participants from randomized controlled clinical trials conducted in South Africa, Brazil, and the United Kingdom. Among these, 8,581 participants were inoculated with a control vaccine (saline placebo) while the remaining 8,597 were given two standard doses of the Oxford vaccine.

The vaccine, administered with an interval of 12 or more weeks, reflected 81% protection, while individuals who were given doses with less than six weeks of interval recorded 55% protection, confirmed sources. The study also found that the level of antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein remained the same throughout three months.

On the contrary, the authors mentioned that the effects of the protective shield offered by a single dose of the vaccine are questionable for a period of more than three months as the study was conducted for up to three months.

Covishield is currently being manufactured in India by Pune-headquartered pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd.

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