Studies have shown that people who receive two different COVID-19 vaccines generate potent immune responses, with side effects no worse than those caused by standard regimens.
For the first time, researchers have shown that ‘mix and match’ regiments are highly effective at preventing COVID-19, roughly matching or even exceeding the performance of mRNA vaccines.
Photo via iNews
According to Nature.com, the high antibody levels and other strong immune responses elicited by mix and match regiments suggested they would offer good protection against the disease.
Immunologist Matina Sester at Saarland University in Homburg, Germany said: “I was delighted to see that it’s as effective as one would expect. This is really good news and this will certainly have an influence on clinical practice.”
The studies came about from a natural experiment that began in March, when a number of countries partially or completely halted the use of the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca in Cambridge, UK, because of the extremely rare but serious side effects.
Some people who’d already received one dose of this vaccine then had a different vaccine as their second jab. Sester’s team and several others demonstrated that the mix and match combinations were safe and led to a strong immune response.
Photo via Nature
Now, three teams have provided the first measurements of the effectiveness of mix-and-match regiments. The studies looked at various populations at various times, including during the rise of the hyper-infectious Delta variant, which they all agree that mix-and-match, or heterologous, vaccination is highly protective.
So there’s nothing to worry about, guys! Mixing COVID-19 vaccines is safe and offers higher protection against the virus.
Jom, let’s get vaccinated!
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
