Delaying the second dose of Covid-19 vaccines could in some conditions reduce mortality by up to 20 per cent, research published on Wednesday shows.
The vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are both two-dose treatments but there are circumstances when people may benefit from a delayed dose, according to a US study published in The BMJ on Wednesday.
For people under 65, the circumstances include having a one-dose vaccine efficacy of 80 per cent or higher and vaccination rates of 0.1 to 0.3 per cent of the population a day.
“Decision-makers will need to consider their local vaccination rates and weigh the benefits of increasing these rates by delaying a second dose, versus the risks associated with the remaining uncertainty in this strategy," the researchers said.
"These decisions should continue to be re-evaluated as new data become available."
The longer it takes to effectively vaccinate the world, the higher the chance that variant strains will develop with immunity to available drugs.
This has sparked calls for giving priority to single-dose vaccines.
But the assumption that meaningful protection against Covid-19 can be achieved after a single dose of vaccine is the subject of continuing debate.
The US team of researchers set out to measure the effect of delayed second dose vaccine policies on infections, hospital admissions and deaths, compared with the current on-schedule, two-dose regimen.
Using a simulation model based on a sample population of 100,000 US adults, they ran scenarios to forecast potentially infectious interactions under different conditions over a six months.
It included varying levels of vaccine efficacy and administration rates, as well as varying assumptions as to whether the vaccine prevents transmission and serious symptoms or only prevents serious symptoms, including death.
They also examined the effect of delaying second doses for those younger than 65, but not before fully vaccinating older people.
The results suggest that under specific conditions, a decrease in cumulative mortality, infections and hospital admissions can be achieved when the second vaccine dose is delayed.
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MATCH INFO
Everton 0
Manchester City 2 (Laporte 45 2', Jesus 90 7')
The specs: 2019 BMW i8 Roadster
Price, base: Dh708,750
Engine: 1.5L three-cylinder petrol, plus 11.6 kWh lithium-ion battery
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 374hp (total)
Torque: 570Nm (total)
Fuel economy, combined: 2.0L / 100km
About Krews
Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support
Company%C2%A0profile
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The biog
Favourite hobby: taking his rescue dog, Sally, for long walks.
Favourite book: anything by Stephen King, although he said the films rarely match the quality of the books
Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption stands out as his favourite movie, a classic King novella
Favourite music: “I have a wide and varied music taste, so it would be unfair to pick a single song from blues to rock as a favourite"
Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
Inside%20Out%202
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EKelsey%20Mann%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Amy%20Poehler%2C%20Maya%20Hawke%2C%20Ayo%20Edebiri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
MATCH INFO
Crawley Town 3 (Tsaroulla 50', Nadesan 53', Tunnicliffe 70')
Leeds United 0
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Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
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On sale: now
The five pillars of Islam
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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