The Atlantic
Vaccine regimens need both science and public trust to succeed.
Adam Maida / The Atlantic
The debates began as 2020 ended and the first vaccines were headed toward authorization. Skip the second dose, some researchers proposed just one prick of the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna formulation might be enough to do the trick. Jab No. 2 is crucial, others parried, but perhaps it can be postponed longer than the prescribed three or four weeks. No need to screw with the schedule, still others insisted, if the amount of vaccine in each inoculation gets cut in half.
The details varied, but the common thread was clear: To combat the limitations of vaccine supply, these controversial proposals suggested, we should stretch the resources we’ve got.