There are new data to support heterologous vaccination

The new results coming from the Com-Cov study show that the combination AstraZeneca followed by Pfizer-BioNTech induces greater antibody and cellular responses than the homologous vaccination with AstraZeneca

(Photo: Mika Baumeister on Unsplash) It is an encouraging result and partly reassuring what comes from Oxford, on the new results of the Com-Cov experimentation on the efficacy of vaccine mixes, at least from the immune profile. An additional piece of evidence, although still limited, in favor of the recent choice in Italy to offer, on an optional basis, heterologous vaccination with mRna vaccine to under 60s who have received a first dose with the AstraZeneca vaccine. In fact, the Com-Cov results show that the immune responses triggered by the AstraZeneca (ChAd) and Pfizer-BioNTech (Bnt) mix are high, with some differences in the order of administration. The details on the Lancet pre-print pages.

In recent weeks the results on the reactogenicity of the vaccine mix (tested in over 50s) had already been released. They spoke of a greater risk of mild and moderate side effects from heterologous vaccination, but without any particular safety signals being reported, explained Mattew Snape of the University of Oxford, head of the study. Today, the same trial also received results on the effectiveness of the immune response measured on 463 study participants, who received the vaccine doses 28 days apart.

In detail, according to Oxford, the best cellular and antibody response is observed when a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine follows that of AstraZeneca, but that even in the opposite order the antibody response is greater than that observed with two doses of AstraZeneca. Compared to homologous vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech - the one with the greatest antibody response observed in the study - the Pfizer-BioNTech mix followed by AstraZeneca induces a lower antibody response. The cellular response - measured for T cells - was greatest for the AstraZeneca and then Pfizer-BioNTech combination (followed by the Bnt / ChAd, Bnt / Bnt and ChAd / ChAd combinations). Overall, the results say one thing: the vaccine mix seems to be a viable and viable option with a view to making vaccination campaigns more flexible. Both looking at possible shortages in supplies, the authors explain, and in the face of new vaccination choices and strategies (just think of the Italian case).

"These results are an invaluable guide for the use of mixed vaccination schemes , even though the four-week interval we studied here is shorter than the 8-12 weeks commonly adopted for the AstraZeneca vaccine - commented Snape - We know that this longer interval gives a better immune response, and soon the results for the 12-week interval ”.


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Topics

vaccine AstraZeneca-Oxford Coronavirus vaccine Pfizer vaccine BioNTech globalData. fldTopic = "AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine, Coronavirus vaccine, Pfizer BioNTech vaccine"

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