Proposal to shorten interval of 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccine opposed

The Philippine vaccine expert panel opposed proposals to shorten the interval between the first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

According to the panel, one study found that individuals who received a second dose of Sinovac had less antibody within 2 weeks compared to those vaccinated with the second dose after 28 days.

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“Huge difference when you adjust the interval from 14 days to 28 days,” said Dr. Rontgene Solante, a member of the panel.

The result was almost the same in the study of AstraZeneca vaccines, which found that the antibodies produced by the vaccine were 18 times higher if the second dose was injected almost 1 month after the first dose.

The OCTA Research Group had earlier proposed to shorten the interval between 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to allegedly accelerate the increase of fully vaccinated Filipinos amid the threat of a more contagious Delta variant.

The Department of Health has ensured that there will be no different treatment for fully vaccinated patients and those who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19.

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Proposal to shorten interval of 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccine opposed

“There will be no distinction between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals,” said Health Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) Region 11 confirmed two individuals were injected with different COVID-19 vaccine brands in their first and second doses in the Davao region.

An investigation into the incident is currently underway.

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In May, the Department of Health and the Department of Science and Technology said they would study the possibility of mixing COVID-19  brands and booster shots for fully vaccinated individuals.

According to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, , DOST, and Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) have had “several meetings” to discuss the study.

“The proponent of this trial already presented to us their protocol at dito po ay pag-aaralan ito pong mix-and-match, kung saan puwedeng magpabakuna ng another brand aside from the initial brand that you were given,” she said in a briefing.

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