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COVID-19

WHO Issues Interim Recommendations on Mixing and Matching COVID-19 Vaccines

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The World Health Organization has released interim guidance on combining different COVID-19 vaccines for second doses and booster shots, citing varying levels of vaccine availability globally. According to the WHO, mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna can be used as subsequent doses after initial doses of AstraZeneca's vectored vaccine, and vice versa. The guidance also allows for AstraZeneca and mRNA vaccines to be used after Sinopharm's inactivated vaccine.

Key Takeaways:

  • The WHO has issued interim recommendations on mixing and matching COVID-19 vaccines for second doses and booster shots, considering varying levels of vaccine availability globally.
  • mRNA vaccines from Pfizer (PFE.N) and Moderna (MRNA.O) can be used as subsequent doses after initial doses of AstraZeneca's (AZN.L) vectored vaccine.
  • AstraZeneca and mRNA vaccines can also be used as subsequent doses after initial doses of Sinopharm's inactivated vaccine.
  • The guidance has been developed based on advice from the WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on vaccines, following a major study that showed a combination of AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines induced a better immune response.
  • The WHO recommends weighing the benefits and risks of the COVID-19 vaccines being used, as well as considering supply projections and accessibility.
  • The recommendations will be reviewed as more data becomes available, the global health agency said.

Key names and initiatives mentioned:

  • Pfizer Inc (PFE.N)
  • Moderna Inc (MRNA.O)
  • AstraZeneca (AZN.L)
  • Sinopharm
  • WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on vaccines

Statistics:

  • The study that showed a combination of AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines induced a better immune response involved a cohort of 672 participants.

Sources:

  • [World Health Organization](https://www.who.int/news-item/2022-disease-outbreak-news-weekly-summary-24)
  • [Pfizer Inc](https://www.pfizer.com/)
  • [Moderna Inc](https://www.modernatx.com/)
  • [AstraZeneca](https://www.astrazeneca.com/)
  • [Sinopharm](https://www.sinopharm.com/)

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