Mix-and-match vaccine very effective against Covid, says Lancet study: The Tribune India
London, 18 October
People who received the first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine followed by an mRNA vaccine shot had a lower risk of infection compared to those who were immunized with both doses of AstraZeneca, according to a nationwide study in Sweden.
As the use of AstraZeneca’s vector-based vaccine against Covid-19 was stopped for people under 65 years of age due to safety concerns, all individuals in Sweden who had already received their first dose of this vaccine were recommended an mRNA vaccine as their second dose. “Having received one of the approved vaccines is better compared to no vaccine, and two doses are better than one, says Peter Nordstrom, professor at UmeĆ„ University. “However, our study shows a greater risk reduction for people who received an mRNA vaccine after receiving the first dose of a vector-based vaccine, compared to people who received the vector-based vaccine for both doses,” said Nordstrom.
The study, which was published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe journal on Monday, is based on nationwide register data from the Swedish Public Health Agency, the National Board of Health and Welfare and Statistics Sweden.
The main analysis included approximately 7 lakh individuals. During a 2.5-month mean follow-up period after the second dose, the study showed a 67 percent lower risk of infection for the combination of vaccines with AstraZeneca and Pfizer.
There was a 79% lower risk of infection for AstraZeneca and Modern vaccine shots, compared to unvaccinated individuals, the researchers said.
For people who have received two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, known as Covishield in India, the risk reduction was 50%, they said. – PTI
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Investigation findings
- 67% lower risk of infection for the combination of vaccines with AstraZeneca and Pfizer
- 79% lower risk of AstraZeneca and Modern jabs, compared to non-vaccinated individuals
- 50% risk reduction for people who have received two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine (Covishield)