Concerns over plan to delay second injection

Doc tors’ leaders in Scotland have voiced concerns about UK plans to delay giving people the second dose of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine, claiming the move could cause a drop in the number of vaccinations in coming weeks.

Dr Lewis Morrison, chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA) Scotland, said there was “clearly disagreement” among experts on the effec tiveness of the Pfizer vaccine, with the second injection now due to be given 12 weeks after the first.

It was originally planned that people would be given the two doses three weeks apart, but with the UK struggling to deal with the faster spreading strain, leaders have opted to try to get more people their first dose.

Nicola Sturgeon has said it is hoped that extending the gap between the two doses to 12 weeks could see 2.5 million people given at least one injection by early May. That could give over-50s and younger people with underlying conditions some protection.

The UK’S four chief medical officers have insisted the first dose of either the Pfizer or the Astrazeneca vaccines – the two so far approved for use – gives people substantial protection within 2-3 weeks.

But Dr Morrison said BMA Scotland was concerned about the situation “because there is clearly disagreement about the effectiveness of the second dose of Pfizer after that period”.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Mo r n i n g Scotland programme, he added: “Furthermore I think if you give more people the first dose when you don’ t know what vaccine supplies are going to be within that 12-week window, that’s a worry that has been expressed to me by a lot of doctors.”