COVID-19: UK science chief's 'helpful discussion' with Israel experts over vaccine fears
Israeli scientists have said their findings raise serious questions about the UK's decision to delay the second dose.
Thursday 21 January 2021 19:08, UK
The government's chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, has had a "helpful discussion" with Israeli experts after a study suggested the UK vaccine policy could put lives at risk.
In December the UK decided to give both parts of the Oxford and Pfizer vaccines 12 weeks apart, having initially planned to leave 21 days between the Pfizer jabs.
The decision was made to ensure more people were given a first dose to help fight the UK's rising coronavirus infection rate.
Despite opposition from the drug companies themselves, the UK's chief medical officers insisted that trial data on the Pfizer/BioNtech jab showed it would be 89% effective after one dose.
However, Israeli experts told Paste BN the results from real-world analysis did not show vaccine efficacy at a level close to that used by the UK to justify delaying the second dose.
Sir Patrick has now revealed he has been in contact with his Israeli counterparts about the vaccine.
He tweeted: "Very helpful discussion with @CMO_England and colleagues from @IsraelMOH today to share information and lessons on the science behind the UK and Israel's COVID-19 vaccination programmes."
Sky's science correspondent Thomas Moore said: "Two doses look spectacularly effective. That's been shown in the clinical trials.
"But the evidence that the second dose can be delayed for three months looks shaky. Not even the manufacturers recommend it.
"And the experience from Israel does nothing to boost confidence in the way the vaccine is being used in the UK."