The World Health Organization in a statement that contradicts the Pfizer position, which claimed that no more than 21 days should be waited • "Maximizes the utilization of the doses"
The World Health Organization has decided to intervene in the question of how far the vaccine doses of Pfizer-Biontech can be separated, and in a position published today (Wednesday) stated that it is permissible to reach a range of 6 weeks between the first vaccine and the second vaccine.
In doing so, the organization actually enters and establishes a position in the global debate over whether it is possible to vaccinate more people at once while postponing the granting of the second vaccine dose beyond the three weeks recommended by the company.
Pfizer vaccine production // Archive photo: Reuters
The organization's intervention comes after many countries decided that the widespread contagion of people's content does not allow them to give up the possibility of giving all of Pfizer's vaccines at once while giving up the second dose in principle within 3 weeks in the hope that the pharmaceutical giant will produce more vaccines That will allow the second dose beyond the official 3-week term.
However, while the UK government has decided to allow a 12-week gap between the first and second vaccines, the World Health Organization allows only 6 weeks, arguing that "within this time frame there is enough information that the vaccine is effective despite the gap between the two doses".
The person who published the decision is Alejandro Carbioto, head of the strategic team of experts advising the organization in the field of combating the plague.
The senior explained that following the acceleration of the infection due to the British mutation "we made an unusual decision and it is to go beyond the determination of Pfizer which recommends the second dose in a time span of 21-30 days and extended the time you can wait between doses. Use the number of packages they currently have until the next shipments arrive. "
The Deputy Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Health, Professor Itamar Grotto, also recommended that the population be vaccinated with all vaccine doses in the country and not keep half of the doses for those people who received the first dose as directed by the company.
Meanwhile, senior members of the World Health Organization will soon also meet with representatives of Astra Zenica and the University of Oxford in preparation for a recommendation on their vaccination as well.
Prof. Hezi Levy: "Give the vaccine according to what has been tried in studies"
Two days ago, Pfizer announced that no information had been received indicating that the protection provided by the first dose of the vaccine to Corona was maintained after 21 days, so postponing the second injection by several months was not scientifically supported.
The company has in fact contradicted the claims of the British medical community, which recently recommended the government focus on as many starters as possible for the general population.
According to this model, the second dose will be given up to 12 weeks late.
In Israel, they discussed the adoption of the British model, but rejected the move in the end.
"We believe that the vaccine should be given according to what has been tried in studies, in two doses with a 21-day gain," said Prof. Hezi Levy, director general of the Ministry of Health. Dr. Tal Brosh, a member of the Corona Vaccine Committee , Supported this position: "It may protect people in the short term, but in a year these people will be infected in Corona. What's more, in Israel there will be enough vaccines for everyone in the future."
In contrast, an infectious disease expert who is a member of the epidemic treatment team, said: "The second dose is just a booster, and can be given even after four or five weeks. The vaccine gives phenomenal protection after only ten days."