âIncreasing the interval gives you better protection. But if you look at the range of protection in the study, it is hard to say that is an absolutely significant difference,â said University of Sydney professor of medical microbiology James Triccas.
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âThe most important point, and this is more relevant for other countries compared to us â there does not seem to be a negative effect of increasing that interval.â
The Therapeutic Goods Administration approved AstraZenecaâs two-dose vaccine last week. Australia has ordered 53.8 million doses.
The TGA allows nurses and doctors to administer the second dose between four and 12 weeks after the first, but the federal governmentâs Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation recommends it is given 12 weeks apart.
Coronavirus Australia: AstraZeneca COVID vaccine more effective the longer you wait for second dose, study shows brisbanetimes.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from brisbanetimes.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
How long will the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccinations remain protective against COVID-19?
Posted
MonMonday 15
updated
MonMonday 15
The Federal Government plans to start distributing COVID-19 vaccines next week.
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The Pfizer option will be given to priority groups (which includes quarantine workers and people living in aged care facilities) but most Australians will get the yet-to-be-approved Oxford-AstraZeneca jab.
Can Australians expect to roll up their sleeves
every year or so to get a booster shot?
Here s what we know and don t know about how long the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines will protect us after we ve been inoculated.
But the vaccines being produced by Moderna, Pfizer and AstraZeneca all generate much higher levels of immunity than natural infection alone and because of that scientists expect them to still cover variants of the virus that cut the effectiveness of vaccine-induced antibodies.
Three new studies, none of which have yet been peer reviewed, suggest that will be the case.
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Natural infection â and vaccines â generate a very wide variety of antibodies, each designed to attach themselves to a different part of the virus.
Antibodies that stick to COVID-19âs spike â the cellular harpoon SARS-CoV-2 uses to bind to human cells â are key, because they can block the virus from infected cells.
Manufacturing and trial delays have meant Australia’s third vaccine has slipped off the radar – but early trial data raises hopes it could offer strong protection against and even halt the virus' spread.