This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/news/529022-who-vaccine-booster-combination/
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| ‘An evidence-free zone’: WHO chief scientist warns against ‘mixing and matching’ coronavirus vaccines | ‘An evidence-free zone’: WHO chief scientist warns against ‘mixing and matching’ coronavirus vaccines |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| World Health Organization Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan has warned people away from combining different Covid-19 vaccines, despite studies suggesting that the “cocktail” approach could yield positive results. | World Health Organization Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan has warned people away from combining different Covid-19 vaccines, despite studies suggesting that the “cocktail” approach could yield positive results. |
| With pharmaceutical companies touting the possibility of booster shots against the latest Covid-19 variants, Dr. Swaminathan warned on Monday against mixing different vaccines in an effort to boost immunity. | With pharmaceutical companies touting the possibility of booster shots against the latest Covid-19 variants, Dr. Swaminathan warned on Monday against mixing different vaccines in an effort to boost immunity. |
| “I really want to caution folks,” Swaminathan said during a World Health Organization (WHO) press briefing. “There are people who are thinking about mixing and matching … so it’s a little bit of a dangerous trend here. We’re in a data-free, evidence-free zone. There is limited data on mix and match.” | “I really want to caution folks,” Swaminathan said during a World Health Organization (WHO) press briefing. “There are people who are thinking about mixing and matching … so it’s a little bit of a dangerous trend here. We’re in a data-free, evidence-free zone. There is limited data on mix and match.” |
| “It will be a chaotic situation in countries if citizens start deciding when they should be taking a second or third or fourth dose.” | “It will be a chaotic situation in countries if citizens start deciding when they should be taking a second or third or fourth dose.” |
| Several studies have shown promising results from a combination of different vaccines. Russia’s Gamaleya Institute was the first vaccine developer to explore this avenue when it offered its Sputnik V jab up for clinical trials last year alongside AstraZeneca’s shot, with research still taking place. Similar studies combining other vaccines have bolstered the argument for ‘mixing and matching’, and a number of countries – among them the UK, Canada and Italy – allow citizens to receive shots from multiple manufacturers. | Several studies have shown promising results from a combination of different vaccines. Russia’s Gamaleya Institute was the first vaccine developer to explore this avenue when it offered its Sputnik V jab up for clinical trials last year alongside AstraZeneca’s shot, with research still taking place. Similar studies combining other vaccines have bolstered the argument for ‘mixing and matching’, and a number of countries – among them the UK, Canada and Italy – allow citizens to receive shots from multiple manufacturers. |
| Swaminathan acknowledged that these studies have shown promise, but noted that even amid the spread of the latest coronavirus variants, booster shots are not needed at the moment. | Swaminathan acknowledged that these studies have shown promise, but noted that even amid the spread of the latest coronavirus variants, booster shots are not needed at the moment. |
| “It has to be based on the science and the data, not on individual companies declaring that their vaccines should now be administered as a booster dose,” she concluded. | “It has to be based on the science and the data, not on individual companies declaring that their vaccines should now be administered as a booster dose,” she concluded. |
| Swaminathan was likely referring to US drugmaker Pfizer, which announced last week that a third dose of its vaccine could be necessary to maintain immunity. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, however, countered Pfizer’s announcement with a joint statement reiterating that two doses are effective for the time being. | Swaminathan was likely referring to US drugmaker Pfizer, which announced last week that a third dose of its vaccine could be necessary to maintain immunity. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, however, countered Pfizer’s announcement with a joint statement reiterating that two doses are effective for the time being. |
| Like this story? Share it with a friend! | Like this story? Share it with a friend! |
| Dear readers and commenters, | |
| We have implemented a new engine for our comment section. We hope the transition goes smoothly for all of you. Unfortunately, the comments made before the change have been lost due to a technical problem. We are working on restoring them, and hoping to see you fill up the comment section with new ones. You should still be able to log in to comment using your social-media profiles, but if you signed up under an RT profile before, you are invited to create a new profile with the new commenting system. | |
| Sorry for the inconvenience, and looking forward to your future comments, | |
| RT Team. |