Can You Mix and Match COVID-19 Vaccines From Different Manufacturers?

In an effort to accelerate the COVID-19 vaccination drive, some countries are experimenting with a heterologous, or mix-and-match, vaccination regimen, where the second dose is from a different vaccine manufacturer than the first. But does this approach have any impact on our bodies, and is it a safe practice?

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Amid concerns and hesitancy among some individuals regarding the COVID-19 vaccines, Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuấn addressed the situation: “There is no 100% effective or 100% safe vaccine.” As a result, several countries have explored the use of two different COVID-19 vaccines to enhance immune response.

1The Principle Behind Using Two Different COVID-19 Vaccines

European countries and the United States have been investigating the combination of two different vaccines for the initial two doses. Data from Spain indicates that using AstraZeneca for the first dose and Pfizer for the second dose yields a strong immune response, even better than using the same vaccine for both doses.

In the UK, researchers are exploring the use of Moderna or Sputnik for the second dose, and initial results look promising,” said Professor and Master Dang Duc Anh, Director of the Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology. This approach is known as “heterologous prime-boost” and is not a novel concept, having been tested during the Ebola outbreak.

The method of using two different vaccines has been applied previously

Experts explain that combining COVID-19 vaccines involves not just using products from different manufacturers but also combining two different ways of stimulating the immune response due to varying production technologies.

According to scientists, combining vaccines with different development technologies can “activate” different capabilities of the immune system, thereby providing better protection and increasing resistance against variants.

In addition to enhanced immunity, using two similar vaccines also offers much-needed flexibility when vaccine supply is uneven or limited.

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2Is It Safe to Use Two Different COVID-19 Vaccines?

Based on initial trials, scientists believe that combining different vaccines could be a viable short-term solution amid vaccine supply shortages affecting many countries’ vaccination campaigns.

However, more extensive research is required in the long term to assess the actual protective effect of this combined vaccination model.

In Vietnam, the Standing Committee of the Steering Committee for COVID-19 Vaccination has also tasked the Ministry of Health with studying the possibility of using two different vaccines, which may be implemented in the future.

The option of using two different vaccines is also under consideration in Vietnam

Professor Duc Anh advised that individuals should take the opportunity to get vaccinated with any available vaccine, as the adverse reaction rates are similar across different vaccines, and no vaccine is 100% safe.

Through this article, we hope to provide insights into the method of using two different COVID-19 vaccines. Remember to follow the 5K message to stay safe and help defeat the pandemic.

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