Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 26, 2021 (SKNIS): Medical Chief of Staff of the Joseph N. France General Hospital, Dr. Cameron Wilkinson, assured that the efficacy of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will remain high even with a reduced time frame between the first and second jabs.
On Tuesday’s (May 25, 2021) edition of Leadership Matters, Dr. Wilkinson commended persons who continue to come forward to receive the life-saving COVID-19 vaccine. He said that science has demonstrated that the first dose of the vaccine provides a 76 percent efficacy. A dosing interval between four to 12 weeks increases the efficacy above 82 percent he added.
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“Ideally, if you gave the vaccine between 10 to 12 weeks the efficacy will be greatest, but the manufacturers recommend that it can be given anywhere out of four weeks,” Dr. Wilkinson stated.
Health authorities have reduced the time between the first and second doses in order to maximize the vaccine usage, which continues to set new daily records. On Tuesday (May 25) records revealed that 725 persons received the first jab, while 337 got their second dose.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Hazel Laws, said that persons taking the vaccine this week will receive their second dose in about four and a half to five weeks. -30-
