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According to studies, if an mRNA vaccine is administered for the second dose of coronavirus vaccination after a first shot with AstraZeneca, vaccine protection is higher than with a double shot with the same vaccine. This heterologous vaccination schedule is now clearly recommended by the Austrian Medical Association (ÖAK).
On Monday, the National Immunization Panel (NIG) updated its recommendation for use of protective vaccines: Cross-vaccinations should be offered upon patient request. However, this continues to be an “off-label application,” the NIG emphasized. Severe adverse events during the initial shot also warrant a vaccine switch. In several countries this cross or mixed vaccination is already carried out, in Germany it is also recommended by the responsible Standing Commission on Vaccination (STIKO).
This is because, according to current study results, the immune response after heterologous vaccination regimen (Vaxzevria/mRNA vaccine) is clearly superior to the immune response after homologous Vaxzevria vaccination regimen (two doses of Vaxzevria vaccine from AstraZeneca), the STIKO recommendation states. “I would recommend choosing an mRNA vaccine as a second vaccination,” Medical Association President Thomas Szekeres told the Ö1-Mittagsjournal on Tuesday.
“It is important to be vaccinated twice”.
According to Szekeres, the study results are “very encouraging. But it doesn’t matter if you get vaccinated twice with the same vaccine. The important thing is to get vaccinated twice,” the medical association president said. The heterologous schedule could also shorten the interval between vaccinations, Szekeres said. He expects that the National Vaccination Board will give an “opinion that will be similar to the one in Germany, that one can and will also recommend the change.”
Vaccination recommended for convalescents after four weeks
The NIG also added in its updated application recommendation for the CoV vaccination the passage that three days after vaccination physical rest is recommended, competitive sports should be avoided at all. In addition, vaccination is now clearly recommended for persons recovering from Covid-19 as early as four weeks after infection or illness. Most recently, the NIG had stated almost two weeks ago that vaccination was possible for those who had recovered. The reason for the new recommendation is the spread of the more infectious delta variant.
For convalescents, a single vaccination is sufficient. However, a second dose may be required, especially for international travel. In such cases, it should be given, as this is in accordance with the approval and must not be withheld, writes the NIG. However, in convalescents, an increased rate of vaccine reactions is possible when vaccinating twice.
What to do with vaccines not licensed in the EU?
For the first time, the National Immunization Panel also commented on what to do for people vaccinated with vaccines not approved in the EU. These include, for example, the Russian vaccine “Sputnik V” and the Chinese vaccine from Sinopharm. For individuals immunized with such vaccines, “revaccination with an EU-approved vaccine according to the respective vaccination schedule may be considered,” the NIG writes in its recommendation. Four vaccines have been approved in the EU so far: the mRNA vaccines Comirnaty from Biontech and Pfizer and Spikevax from Moderna, as well as the vector vaccines Vaxzevria from AstraZeneca and that from Johnson & Johnson.
— sources: ORF.at/agencies/ÖAK/National Vaccination Committee/STIKO/
Ministry of Social Affairs/picture: https://www.forschung-und-lehre.de/
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