WHO warns people against mixing and matching Covid jabs
GENEVA: The World Health Organization’s chief scientist on Monday advised against people mixing and matching Covid-19 vaccines from different manufacturers, calling it a “dangerous trend” since more data is needed about the health impact.
“It’s a little bit of a dangerous trend here,” Soumya Swaminathan told an online briefing. “It will be a chaotic situation in countries if citizens start deciding when and who will be taking a second, a third and a fourth dose.”
Swaminathan called mixing a “data-free zone” on Monday but the WHO clarified on Tuesday that some data was available and more was expected.
Its Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on vaccines in June said the Pfizer vaccine could be used as a second dose after an initial dose of Astrazeneca, if the latter is not available.
The results of a further clinical trial led by the University of Oxford that will look at mixing Astrazeneca and Pfizer as well as Moderna and Novovax vaccines is underway.
“Data from mix and match studies of different vaccines are awaited — immunogenicity and safety both need to be evaluated,” the WHO said in e-mailed comments.
It should be public health agencies who make decisions, based on available data, and not individuals, the WHO added.
Thailand on Tuesday defended mixing two different Covid-19 vaccines to battle a surge in infections, after the WHO’S top scientist warned it was a “dangerous trend” not backed by evidence.
Thailand’s chief virologist Yong Poovorawan said this would be possible by combining an inactivated virus vaccine — Sinovac — with a viral vector vaccine such as Astrazeneca.
“We can’t wait 12 weeks (for a booster effect) in this outbreak where the disease is spreading fast,” he said.
“But in the future, if there are better, improved vaccines... we will find a better way to manage the situation.”
Thailand has reported more than 353,700 coronavirus cases and 2,847 deaths — the bulk of them detected since the latest wave kicked off in April from an upscale Bangkok nightlife district.
Healthcare workers were the first in line to receive Sinovac, but authorities said on Sunday nearly 900 medical staff — most of them vaccinated with that shot — got Covid-19.
They will now also get an Astrazeneca or Pfizer-biontech booster shot, authorities said.
Virus hotspot Bangkok and nine other hard-hit provinces are now under tougher restrictions that include a night-time curfew and a ban of gatherings over five people.
The administration of Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha has come under vociferous criticism for its handling of the pandemic, from accusations of vaccine mismanagement to the lack of government compensation for affected sectors.
On Tuesday, his cabinet approved a 30 billion baht ($920 million) rehabilitation scheme to aid businesses — including retail, entertainment and construction — affected by the severe restrictions in Bangkok and nine other provinces.
It will be a chaotic situation in countries if citizens start deciding when and who will be taking a second, a third and a fourth dose SOUMYA SWAMINATHAN Chief Scientist, WHO