‘JABS GAMBLE 2nd dose might not work after 12wk wait

DOCTORS say the Government is gambling with people’s lives by making them wait 12 weeks between their two Covid jabs.

Senior medics claim the current plan to delay the second dose is too risky and the gap should be halved to six weeks.

They warned the UK is “on its own” in its untested approach, which was devised so that millions more can receive the first jab sooner then they otherwise would.

Government vaccination experts say unpublished data suggests that the OxfordAstraZeneca vaccine is still effective with doses 12 weeks apart.

But Pfizer has warned its vaccine may not protect against Covid-19 if the booster shot is given later than the 21-day period tested in trials. And the World Health Organisation has recommended a gap of four weeks between doses – to be extended to six weeks only in exceptional circumstances. Dr Chaand Nagpaul, left, from the British Medical Association, said: “A six-week delay compared to the original three weeks advised by Pfizer is still doubling the number of people who can be vaccinated.

“What we’re saying is that the UK should adopt this best practice based on international professional opinion. “Obviously the protection will not vanish after six weeks, but what we do not know is what level of protection will be offered.”

He added: “I do understand the trade-off and the rationale, but if that was the right thing to do then we would see other nations following suit.”

Medics from the BMA have written to Prof Chris Whitty, England’s Chief Medical Officer, calling for an urgent review.

It comes as the new UK variant of the virus was said to be 40% more contagious. Last night, scientists played down suggestions it is more deadly. Prof Graham Medley, who works with chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, said: “In terms of making the situation worse it is not a game-changer.”