After supply delays and safety issues have slowed the vaccination campaign, more and more countries are considering switching to a different Covid-19 vaccine for a second or booster injection. The World Health Organization stated on July 12 that this approach is a dangerous trend because there are few data on health effects. The European drug regulatory agency did not make clear recommendations on the replacement of vaccines on July 14.
The following countries are considering or have decided to adopt this approach:
Cambodia
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen stated on August 1 that the booster injection of AstraZeneca vaccine will be provided to people who have received two doses of the Sinopharm or Coxing vaccine, while the Coxing booster should be provided to Cambodians who have been fully vaccinated with AstraZeneca. injection.
Denmark
The Danish National Serum Institute for Infectious Diseases stated on August 2 that combining AstraZeneca’s vaccine with Pfizer’s BioNTech or Moderna’s second injection can provide “good protection.”
Germany
Germany will provide booster injections of Pfizer’s BioNTech and Moderna vaccines to vulnerable groups (such as pensioners and people with weakened immune systems) starting in September, regardless of which vaccine they have previously received.
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Indonesia
Indonesia is considering providing booster injections to healthcare workers who have received Sinovac vaccine, as thousands of them have tested positive for Covid-19.
Russia
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said on July 30 that a trial of mixing the first dose of Sputnik V vaccine with AstraZeneca’s vaccine showed that there were no serious side effects among volunteers and no subsequent cases of coronavirus.
RDIF said that due to lack of data, the trial was approved on July 29 after being suspended by the Ministry of Health’s Ethics Committee in May. The full results of the trial will be announced this month.
Turkey
The Turkish Ministry of Health said on August 16 that Turkey allows people who have received the Huaxing vaccine to receive additional Pfizer vaccinations because it wants to simplify travel to countries that have not yet approved China’s vaccination.
UK
According to a report by the British “Daily Telegraph” on August 15th, the UK Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre will seek to combine influenza vaccine and Covid-19 vaccine into one dose to speed up the strengthening plan.
US
The US regulatory agency authorized Pfizer BioNTech or Moderna on August 13 to provide a third dose to people with compromised immune systems, who may be less protective of the two-dose regimen. If the recipient’s original vaccine is not available, they can get another shot.
