Call to delay 2nd Pfizer shot, one seems enough
THE second dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine could be delayed in order to cover all priority groups as the first dose is highly protective, two Canada-based researchers said in a letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The vaccine had an efficacy of 92.6 percent after the first dose, Danuta Skowronski and Gaston De Serres said, based on an analysis of the documents submitted by the drugmaker to the US Food and Drug Administration.
These findings were similar to the first-dose efficacy of 92.1 percent reported for Moderna’s vaccine, according to the letter on Wednesday.
In its response, Pfizer said alternative dosing regimens of the COVID-19 vaccine had not been evaluated yet and that the decision resided with the health authorities.
Some countries, grappling with low supplies, are looking at dosing patterns or volumes that differ from how the vaccines were tested in clinical trials.
There are differences over the merits of such strategies, with some arguing the urgency of the pandemic requires flexibility, while others oppose abandoning data-driven approaches for the sake of expediency.
Skowronski and De Serres have cautioned that there may be uncertainty about the duration of protection with a single dose of the vaccine, but said the administration of the second dose a month after the first provided “little added benefit in the short term.”
In Britain, authorities have said that data supported its decision to move to a 12-week dosing schedule for Pfizer’s COVID vaccine.
Both Pfizer and partner BioNTech have warned that they had no evidence to prove it.
Pfizer’s vaccine is authorized to be taken 21 days apart.
The US FDA and the European Medicines agency have stuck by the interval tested in the trials.
Spring Frolics
The exhibition is staged for an immersive experience about the history, culture and tradition of the Chinese calendar. Visitors can discover the origin of the 24 solar terms. They are also welcome to join in the poetry reading, AI drawing and a visual touring to explore the 800-year history of Jiading. Meanwhile, various folk culture and festive performances will be hosted throughout the day, bringing joy and laughter to all.
Date: Through February 28, 10am-10pm
Venue: Life Hub@Anting Address: 1055 Moyu Rd S., Jiading
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ANDREA Pirlo’s Juventus was branded ‘clueless and devoid of ideas’ as its UEFA Champions League last 16 campaign stumbled midweek with a blundering 1-2 first-leg defeat at Porto.
Two quick-fire goals at the start of each half punished the Italian champion before Federico Chiesa rescued an away goal late with the second leg in
Turin on March 9.
“Coming onto the pitch like that without focus is unacceptable, there was too much superficiality,” former Juventus coach Fabio Capello told Sky Sport.
“In the first half (Rodrigo) Bentancur’s huge mistake, in the second eight defenders were not careful against three Porto players. This cannot happen”.
For Juventus it was the fourth straight away game in the UCL last 16 which it failed to win.
Pirlo’s side had been hit by injuries, with Paulo Dybala, Leonardo Bonucci, Juan Cuadrado and Arthur all sidelined.
Captain Giorgio Chiellini was forced off with a muscular problem in the first half with Matthijs De Ligt ending the game limping, with Pirlo revealing that Alvaro Morata “felt faint” and had to lie down after the final whistle.
“When you concede a goal like that so early on, it knocks your confidence,” said Pirlo, in his first campaign as Juve coach. “The players let their heads drop and Porto were able to play the game that they wanted to play.
“We shouldn’t have played like that and it’s a shame. We could have done better.”
For Corriere Dello Sport it was Juventus’s “worst match of the season” blasting the Turin side as “distracted and superficial.”
Star striker Cristiano Ronaldo was described as “a ghost” on his return to Portugal.
“The Juventus team instinctively let itself be conditioned by Ronaldo’s performance.
“An unwatchable Juve, perhaps the worst of the season saved by Chiesa’s goal.”
Both sides are two-time European champs with Juve’s last title in 1996 and Porto’s in 2004.