Doncaster’s top health official on concerns around 12-week wait for second dose of Covid-19 vaccine

The borough’s top health official has responded to concerns around the UK’s strategy to extend the time limit a person gets their second Covid-19 jab.
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Hatfield councillor Derek Smith raised the issue of the maximum 12-week wait for the second jab as studies from Israel questioned the method and said their results do not show efficacy at a level close to that used by the UK to justify delaying the second dose of the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine.

Dr Rupert Suckling, director of public health, said a delay of up to 12 weeks can actually increase the effectiveness of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab, to which ‘most people will get’.

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Over 20,000 Covid-19 jabs have been successfully administered in Doncaster as the vaccination programme continues to roll-out, with health leaders aiming for a target of 70,000 by the middle of February.

Doncaster's Director of Public Health, Dr Rupert SucklingDoncaster's Director of Public Health, Dr Rupert Suckling
Doncaster's Director of Public Health, Dr Rupert Suckling

Doncaster is said to be on track to deliver first doses of Covid-19 jabs to the majority of those over 80, 75 and 70 as well as frontline health and social care workers in February.

This also includes care home residents, their respective staff, as well as those who are defined as ‘extremely clinically vulnerable’ due to an existing or long-standing health condition.

Coun Smith said: “Most of the science regarding the vaccine is best around two doses, given the second given within the recommended period of time.

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“However, there are some concerns and It seems to me that the Government is taking quite a gamble on this.

“This is because there are concerns coming out of Israel, which is slightly more advanced in our country in terms of the vaccine rollout, where it’s becoming known that the level of protection from one dose of the vaccine is not as high as they expected and more people than expected.”

“The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is the one that most of us will receive. The evidence from the vaccine trials for that vaccine that the first dose effectiveness approach is somewhere around 70 per cent and actually a delay of 12 weeks can actually increase the effectiveness.

“You’re right with the Pfizer vaccine which is the vaccine – the trial shows that first dose effectiveness is about 50 per cent and obviously that’s significant but it still leaves a number of people that are unprotected. And with a second dose that we take the protection of to about 90 per cent.”

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In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.