3rd dose of AstraZeneca boosts immunity to peak levels: Study

LONDON

New research by Oxford University has shown that a booster jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine six months after the second dose restores peak immunity, but one of the directors of the Oxford Vaccine Group said on Monday that there is no evidence these booster jabs are needed at the moment.

Prof. Sir Andrew Pollard was quoted by Sky News as saying that the current priority should be making sure those in other countries have had at least one dose before giving Brits a third.

According to Public Health England, two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine prevent over 90% of serious infections from the Delta variant.

“This is about preparedness,” Pollard said.

“We have data from this new study to show we can boost responses by giving another dose of the vaccine. We have data from this new study to show we can boost responses by giving another dose of the vaccine.”

“When we have high levels of protection in the UK population, and no evidence of that being lost, to give third doses now while other countries have zero doses is not acceptable. We have to make sure that other countries are protected,” he added.

“Having two doses is better than one dose, and so if there is a lot of transmission in the population and you have a lot of supply of vaccine, giving two doses seems to make sense,” Pollard said.

“But if you have insufficient supply even having one dose will have a huge impact on reducing hospitalisations and deaths, so the priority would be getting the first dose into as many people as possible.”

LONDON

Prof. Sir Andrew Pollard was quoted by Sky News as saying that the current priority should be making sure those in other countries have had at least one dose before giving Brits a third.

According to Public Health England, two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine prevent over 90% of serious infections from the Delta variant.

“This is about preparedness,” Pollard said.

“Having two doses is better than one dose, and so if there is a lot of transmission in the population and you have a lot of supply of vaccine, giving two doses seems to make sense,” Pollard said.