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On Eve of Vaccine Campaign, Some States Still Uncertain of Supply - Gellad discusses risks

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On Eve of Vaccine Campaign, Some States Still Uncertain of Supply - Gellad discusses risks

BLOOMBERG NEWS - Some have questioned the tradeoff of holding doses in reserve with the pandemic raging in the U.S. Pfizer’s two-dose regimen has been shown to be 95% effective at preventing Covid-19 illness when doses are spaced 21 days apart. Data from the company revealed this week that the vaccine also seems to confer some protection after only one dose.

The risk that subsequent doses might be delayed should be weighed against the benefit of inoculating more people more quickly, said HPM's  Walid Gellad, director of the Center for Pharmaceutical Policy and Prescribing at the University of Pittsburgh. Administering more than half of the shots available today would mean having faith that sufficient doses will be manufactured in time to deliver recipients’ boosters 21 days later.

“The decision is not, do we give everyone one shot?” Gellad said. “The decision is, do you take a risk that the second shot will be delayed?”

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Photo: Victoria Jones / PA Wire

 



12/15/2020
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