Delay in 2nd Pfizer jab

Faced with limited vaccine supplies, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says they might delay the second dose of Pfizer vaccine by up to three months, compared to the approved schedule of two doses three weeks apart.

Mkhize explained that this was done in a bid to reach more people who would be at least partially protected from hospitalisation and death.

Citizens aged 60 and older started receiving the two-shot Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine on Monday, as government launched Phase 2 of the national vaccine rollout.

So far the country has received 975 780 Pfizer doses, and about 1.3 million more are expected by the end of the month.

According to a new UK study, delaying the second dose of Pfizer's two-shot Covid-19 vaccine could help people produce more antibodies against the virus.

Several countries, including Britain, Denmark, Norway, France, the USA and Canada have extended the interval between the first and second doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines from six weeks up to a maximum of four months – if vaccines are in short supply.

Mkhize asked for the public to be patient for the second dose: “We might want to delay the second dose by up to three months… if that happens, don’t feel aggrieved.

“We want to reach as many people as possible and then build up the immunity.

“With the second phase, we are looking at 16 million people to be vaccinated in this process.”

Currently, SA is only rolling out the Pfizer jab as it waits to hear from the Food and Drug Administration.

Mkhize said he hopes that the J&J vaccines will be released this week.

African News Agency