Should second jabs of Pfizer/Moderna be delayed to 12 weeks to battle COVID surge?

[tritsofme]

An interesting thread by Dr. Atul Gawande

Link to tweet

?s=20

[we can do it]

1. Nope. Just no.

[roamer65]

2. The masking and lockdown measures shouldn't have been stopped.

That’s what causing this surge.

Pukes like Abbott and DeSantis are using SARS-CoV-2 as a biological weapon and they should be tried for genocide.

They are trying to sabotage Joe Biden’s presidency via killing Americans.

[retread]

19. This!!!!

[piddyprints]

3. Well, when you can't get some people

to even get the first shot, why delay those of us who are ready for the 2nd?

Here in TN, people just won't get it. It's frustrating. Sorry, but individual "freedom" should not be considered when someone's decision to not get vaccinated can affect so many other people. They should be quarantined for life, until they are vaccinated.

[panader0]

4. There may be some states with a shortage of vaccine.

Until a few weeks ago, that was true of Az. Now the whole state is open to age 16 and up, as are
quite a few others. I say don't delay your second shot. (Mine 2nd is on Saturday.)

[tritsofme]

8. Open eligibility doesn't mean you can get an appointment.

It has certainly been easier said than done here in IL the last months, though it does appear to be getting better.

[MissB]

25. Our state for example allowed clinics to get the database of emails and numbers to text

So over 200k got either a text or an email last weekend about a vaccination clinic to sign up for for this coming weekend. Which is fabulous, but there are only 400 spots.

So... yeah.

[jimfields33]

5. Terrible idea.

Funny how this comes up when my second shot is scheduled in April. Ugh.

[Wingus Dingus]

17. Yep. I have an appointment for the third week of April and I'm going to be there

and my effing second shot better be there. This is bullshit.

[jimfields33]

21. Good for you! Me too!!!!

[Chautauquas]

28. Same here

After a long wait and considerable effort I got my first shot, with the 2nd shot scheduled for 4-26. Would be a huge disappointment to have to delay it.

[MissB]

24. Yep same.

I doubt it’ll be an issue though.

[JohnSJ]

6. I don't agree with Dr. Gawande. It was tested for 21 days, not 3 months between doses. Unless

appropriate trials are done to demonstrate this would be a viable option, I think it would not be advised

People need to wear masks, and follow the guide lines

The numbers are increasing because people are not following the guidelines

[Fiendish Thingy]

14. There is third party data showing increased protection beyond 21 days.

http://www.bccdc.ca/Health-Info-Site/Documents/COVID-19_vaccine/Public_health_statement_deferred_second_dose.pdf

[JohnSJ]

18. I don't read it that way. They are referring to the AstraZeneca vaccine, and what I read read

regarding the mRNA vaccines was that it wasn’t known:

“ The interval between the first and second doses was not studied for long periods in most clinical trials and thus the optimal interval between doses remains unknown.”

Another point is we need to do our own evaluations, not Canada’s. This is nothing against Canada, but they have different criteria. If we independently determine the viability of three months, that is another story, but until that is done I disagree with the doctors view.

[muriel_volestrangler]

26. There's also Canadian data supporting delaying the mRNA vaccines till 6 weeks

Based on unpublished data available to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization through Health Canada for both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, there was no difference in vaccine efficacy between the people who got their second dose at day 19 and the people who got it at day 42.

https://bcmj.org/articles/what-evidence-extending-sars-cov-2-covid-19-vaccine-dosing-schedule

[In_The_Wind]

7. No!

[arlyellowdog]

9. No...no one needs that stress

Dr. Fauci said to stick to recommended administration.

[dalton99a]

10. The decision should be based on data.

If it is not feasible to adhere to the recommended interval and a delay in vaccination is unavoidable, the second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines may be administered up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose. Currently, only limited data are available on efficacy of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines administered beyond this window.

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/info-by-product/clinical-considerations.html

[BannonsLiver]

11. Another media hungry doctor convinced they have all the answers

We are awash in those, unfortunately.

[Ex Lurker]

12. The bottleneck isn't supply, it's logistics of administering it

stretching the interval wouldn't address that at all. Doctors are great at their area of expertise, but for most of them that area is very narrowly focused. They they don't know everything and they have a bad habit of thinking they do.

[Fiendish Thingy]

13. That's what they're doing here in Canada- maximize 1st dose to reduce surge of variants

Cases are exploding, and more young people 20-40yo are being hospitalized.

Third party data is showing protection from first shot grows from 60% to about 80% over 8-12 weeks, hence the rationale to delay second shot.

If Trudeau had used the Emergency Powers Act to rebuild Canada’s vaccine production capability (which the Conservatives dismantled decades ago), this step would not have been necessary, as Canada would not be dependent upon the vaccine producing countries for their supply.

http://www.bccdc.ca/Health-Info-Site/Documents/COVID-19_vaccine/Public_health_statement_deferred_second_dose.pdf

[Wingus Dingus]

16. The surge in cases is due to people relaxing the rules and acting like there's

no pandemic. I think at this point the eligibility should be open to all adults to make appointments for vaccines, but don't fuck with the vaccine makers' protocol.

[ProfessorGAC]

20. Unfounded Speculation

As mentioned above, there's limited data to support this.
Then, we've seen surges & ebbs over the past year which can mostly be traced to social behaviors. Others have also mentioned the knee-jerk relaxing of safety measure. To think the surge is unrelated to that is foolish.
Lastly, it would seem a viable option to maximize full vax related immunity rather than increase those with partial immunity. So, extending the term isn't a proven alternative to getting as many 2nd shots in arms in flattening the surge.

[Crunchy Frog]

22. No fucking way. I get my first Pfizer in less than a week, and I fully expect to get my second dose

exactly three weeks later. I'm not going to be deprived of the full benefit, just so some other bozos can behave irresponsibly. They're probably the type who wouldn't get vaccinated anyway.

[Retrograde]

23. Let's not reward bad behavior

The cases are climbing again because too many people are ignoring mask guidelines, reactionary governors are pushing for full re-opening of their states, etc. because Covid-19 is apparently something that happens to other people.

Let's keep to the current plan and get as many people vaccinated as possible

[Politicub]

27. Not sure who this douchenozzle is, but changing appointment bookings

midstream would create a lot of chaos.

It would also disadvantage people who are trying to do the right thing by following government guidance.

[Voltaire2]

29. We have no shortage.

States are opening vaccines to everyone 16 and older, and the limit is only because under 16 hasn’t been approved yet.

So this is stupid.