Pfizer vaccine is most effective against the Delta variant at 88%, while the AstraZeneca vaccine which has been used in Nigeria is 67% effective against the variant.
This was reported in a study released earlier this week by the New England Journal of Medicine. The study revealed that a period of 8 weeks between the first and second dose is enough to build immunity against the strain.
The study found out that two shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine were only 67% effective against the Delta variant and 74.5% effective against the Alpha variant.
The study also found that one dose of Pfizer’s shot was 36% effective and one dose of AstraZeneca’s vaccine was about 30% effective against the Delta variant.
“Our finding of reduced effectiveness after the first dose would support efforts to maximize vaccine uptake with two doses among vulnerable groups in the context of circulation of the Delta variant,” the authors of the study said, citing that only one shot of Pfizer was 36% effective compared to just 30% of AstraZeneca’s.
“This latest study provides further evidence that this interval results in a strong immune response and supports our decision,” U.K. Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi disclosed in a statement, according to Bloomberg.
The study was gathered from immune response data in 503 U.K. healthcare workers.
What you should know
- Nigeria’s National Primary Healthcare Development Agency stated earlier this week that Nigeria has successfully utilized 3,938,945 doses of Astrazeneca vaccines across 36 States and FCT, representing 98% utilization of the 4,024,000 doses of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine it received from the COVAX facility in March 2021.
- Earlier this month, the Federal Government announced that it expects to receive about 8 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, including donations from the United States government by the end of next month.
- The NPHCDA added that Nigeria expects delivery of 3.924 million doses of Oxford/AstraZeneca shots from global vaccine-sharing scheme COVAX by the end of July or early August and an additional 3.93 million doses of either Pfizer/Biotech or Moderna, donated by the U.S. government via COVAX, in August as well.
- The agency also revealed that Nigeria is expecting another 3.577 million doses of Pfizer/Biotech or Moderna from COVAX in the third quarter of 2021, as well as 29.85 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine which was purchased through the Africa Union.