The AstraZeneca-Oxford University Covid-19 vaccine is more effective with a 12-week interval between the first and second doses, according to research.
The study, published in The Lancet medical journal on Friday, found that a 12-week gap between doses led to 81 per cent protection against serious illness from coronavirus infection, compared with 55 per cent protection for a six-week interval between the two doses.
The findings support the UK government’s decision to extend the window to three months between doses to allow more people to receive some level of protection. The World Health Organisation earlier this month welcomed the move.
The 12-week window is cited as a reason for Britain's success with its vaccination drive in comparison to other nations.
The UK has vaccinated more than 16.4 million people with a single, behind only Israel and the UAE in inoculation per capita, government statistics show.
According to the study of more than 17,000 people, a single dose of the vaccine offers 76 per cent protection in the first three months, increasing to 81 per cent after a second dose.
Prof Andrew Pollard, chief investigator of the Oxford Vaccine Group and lead author of the study, said the 12-week gap can “achieve the greatest public health benefit”.
“Where there is a limited supply, policies of initially vaccinating more people with a single dose may provide greater immediate population protection than vaccinating half the number of people with two doses,” he said.
“In the long term, a second dose should ensure long-lived immunity, and so we encourage everyone who has had their first vaccine to ensure they receive both doses.”
Faced with a resurgence in infections and new, highly transmissible variants of the virus, many countries are hoping to broaden immunisation by giving some protection to as many people as possible with a first dose, while delaying subsequent shots.
In the 22 days after the study’s participants received a first dose of the vaccine, no one was admitted to hospital, while 15 people were among those who received a placebo. A total of 8,597 received the vaccine and 8,581 were injected with a placebo.
While previous studies showed vaccines can prevent serious illness or death, there is limited data to suggest they reduce Covid-19 infection.
But Prof Pollard estimated that a single dose of the vaccine could reduce transmission by up to 64 per cent, with those who received the vaccine in the study less likely to test positive for the virus.
“If the vaccine had no impact on transmission, we would expect that the number of positive tests in our trial would be the same in vaccine and control groups,” he said.
“This is because the vaccine would convert severe cases to mild cases, and mild cases to asymptomatic cases. However, we saw a reduction in the overall number of positive cases, which indicates that the vaccines may reduce infections.”
According to "real world" data handed to the British government, vaccines appear to be playing a part in reducing coronavirus transmission by up to two-thirds.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will consider the data showing the effects of one dose of either the Oxford-AstraZeneca or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines as he finalises a route out of lockdown next Monday.
The Telegraph quoted government sources as saying that the Public Health England data – which is not yet publicly available – was "very encouraging".
Prof Neil Ferguson, a key scientific adviser to the government, said the two thirds drop in transmission was “not too far off” the modelling he has seen.
“There are two factors we have to look at: one is how quickly our infection levels are declining, in particular how quickly hospitalisations and deaths are declining. The second is the picture of the real world effectiveness of vaccines,” he told the BBC on Friday.
“They are both looking promising at the moment.”
Prof Adam Finn from the University of Bristol said “everything is moving in the right direction”.
“We’ve got to the point in our study in Bristol to say it’s definitely having an effect – it’s just hard to put an exact number on it at the moment,” he said.
“It’s becoming clear for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which we’ve been using for a month longer, and it will take slightly longer for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to come through, but they are definitely doing the job.”
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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Scoreline
Chelsea 1
Azpilicueta (36')
West Ham United 1
Hernandez (73')
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Match info
What: Fifa Club World Cup play-off
Who: Al Ain v Team Wellington
Where: Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
When: Wednesday, kick off 7.30pm
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MORE ON THE US DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group H
Juventus v Valencia, Tuesday, midnight (UAE)
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Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
