Dr C: “Let me reassure you on the vaccine”
Amid reports about ‘mix-and-match’ doses, delayed second jabs, and the new faster-spreading coronavirus strain, Dr Christian explains the truth behind the worrying headlines
As the second wave of COVID19 infections takes hold, ensuring we can get the vaccine into as many people’s arms as possible is crucial – and key to being able to ease restrictions. Two jabs are being rolled out, with the most vulnerable and frontline health and care workers first in line, but we have ordered enough to vaccinate the whole UK population. They work slightly differently, but both jabs target the spike protein of the virus, the bit that helps it enter your cells, as most vaccines do.
UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT JABS
The Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine uses the same technology as we have used for other coronavirus infections, such as MERS, as well as Zika and flu. It’s well-established and is 70 per cent effective.
The Pfizer jab is 95 per cent effective, but if you can vaccinate enough people with either jab, you can achieve herd immunity. Trials have also shown that even if you were unlucky enough to still get COVID-19, the jab would stop you becoming seriously ill.
THEY AREN’T ‘NEW’
The Pfizer vaccine uses genetic code, rather than a weakened form of the virus to cause an immune response. People think that sounds like science fiction, but while we haven’t made a lot of vaccines that way, it’s not new technology. There was also a lot of fuss about it needing to be kept very cold, but as we’ve seen in the last month, that isn’t presenting a problem.
MIXING ISN’T A WORRY
People are worried at the suggestion we may need to mix different shots, as each vaccine require two doses. It made headlines thanks to an article in the New York Times, but vaccine mix and match isn’t official policy; the UK head of immunisations has confirmed it would only ever happen in exceptional circumstances. If there was no other option, it would be safer to give a second jab of a different vaccine than nothing at all. A second dose stimulates a long-lasting immune response, whereas a second dose of a different jab is more like a first dose again, so it may not last as long.
A DELAY IS OK
Studies are looking at it now, so if it came to it, we would know more, but all medical workers will be giving two doses of the same vaccine – that’s the policy. People are also concerned about the plan to extend the time between jabs from three or four weeks to 12. It’s unusual, but it’s not wrong, or worrying. With vaccines, there are various schedules you can follow: “fast schedules”, where you have one jab followed quickly by another, or you might put months between them, like with Hepatitis B. We have options. We need a plan B for the worst-case scenario, which is what this is. Sometimes we have to delay someone’s second jab because people forget their appointment, or they get a fever and so we wait until they’re better– that happens a lot. The schedule doesn’t have to fit the timings they trialled exactly, there is wriggle room – and a gap of up to 12 weeks will give more people a first dose. In the balance of all probability, looking at all the different vaccines suggests it will be fine. These vaccines are comparable to plenty of others – and we have good knowledge about both immunity and the vaccination process. I’m not worried at all about the delay.
WE NEED VAST NUMBERS VACCINATED
The WHO (World Health Organisation) said there is no scientific evidence for a bigger gap between doses, because nobody has performed a trial on this specific vaccine with a delayed second jab. But they have also said they understand why a country facing such large increases in cases, hospitalisations and deaths may decide to go beyond the evidence. They have to stick to what they have learned through verification, they can’t endorse anything else, but you get a good level of protection from the first dose, and by delaying the second we’ll give more people that initial level of protection while the virus
is spreading quickly. In terms of conquering this pandemic, it’s better to get more people vaccinated with one dose, than a few people with two, because you can create herd immunity. Even if the immunity from the first dose only lasted a short time, if you have vast numbers vaccinated, the virus won’t keep a foothold. Evidence reviewed by WHO hasn’t raised any safety concerns about having either vaccine in pregnancy, but discuss it with your doctor to be sure. It has also been recommended for breastfeeding women, as no risks have been found to infants. The government’s aim is to roll out tens of millions of vaccines in the next three months, so we should all be contacted by the summer.
SCIENTISTS WILL SORT THE NEW STRAIN
Although the virus is mutating, scientists say the vaccines we have will still protect against it, and even if it evolves again, we would only need to adapt it, not start over. Also, remember we still have the old strain in circulation, which we know the jab protects against. The new strain has made people very fearful because it spreads more easily, but it’s unlikely the change would make it more severe. One reason it is spreading so quickly may simply be that we have built up a bit of immunity to the old strain because people have had it, but we don’t have any protection against the new variant.
MUTATIONS CAN HELP
The longer a virus runs through society, the higher the risk of it mutating, so scientists were already primed. It’s why they worked tirelessly to produce vaccines. Thousands of mutations will have already happened, and they aren’t all bad – some mutations make viruses weaker, some cause them to die out, or they can make it shift to a different demographic, who are better able to deal with it. The changes are random, but scientists were ready and are working on it, so you don’t need to worry.
KEEP YOUR DISTANCE
All you need to do is try very hard to avoid getting Covid-19, so if you’re offered a vaccination, take it – and don’t forget to go again for your second dose. Although it’s spreading more easily, the virus relies on you being close to another person to catch it, which is why we have to socially distance and minimise contact with others. If you’re fed up with this lockdown, at least this time there is light at the end of the tunnel. People may wonder why it’s getting worse when they haven’t seen anyone for months, but sadly some have broken the rules, while others may have unwittingly stood a little too close in a queue to somebody who was asymptomatic.
DON’T BE COMPLACENT
Marks on the floor in shops are wearing away, and we’ve all slightly let our guard down, but just remind yourself of the two-metre rule – and if someone stands too close, ask them politely to give you some space. I know we’re fed up with it all, but this final push will help us to finally crack it.