GENEVA (CU)_The United Kingdom has been absolved over its “brave” decision to delay the second doses of COVID-19 vaccines, the World Health Organisation’s special envoy on the virus has said.
The UK chose to offer the second doses between three to twelve weeks following the first dose, despite WHO’s advice against it.
The public health agency’s special envoy on COVID-19, Dr David Nabarro on Sunday (Feb 7) told Sky News that the move had provided a “great lesson” to the rest of the world, as studies suggest that these extended intervals may be associated with greater protection against the virus.
“The advice of the World Health Organisation on intervals between vaccine doses was based on what the manufacturers did in doing what we call the phase three trials of the vaccine and WHO and its committees really has to work on the basis of what manufacturers have told them – but isn’t it wonderful that it has turned out, as a result of the UK’s bravery frankly, that these extended intervals seem to be associated with greater protection,” Dr Nabarro said.
Therefore, he added that the UK’s approach so far has been “vindicated”, and has taught a great lesson for the rest of the world. “Thank you, thank you British scientists,” he acclaimed.
When inquired if the WHO would alter its advice, Dr Nabarro said the agency’s committee of experts, who meet often at the moment, will reconsider the intervals between the doses as a result of the UK’s experience.
The health expert also urged the British government to share vaccine doses with poorer nations once everyone over 50 years in the country have been inoculated. “The situation is that we have some excellent vaccines that can stop people from dying. These vaccines can prevent health services from being overloaded and they are a fantastic invention,” Dr Nabarro said.
“The world should be accessing these vaccines in an equal way because right now, health workers everywhere are at risk, older people are also at risk and the only way to deal with a global pandemic is to give fair shares across the world now.”
Meanwhile, a WHO team of experts is currently in the Chinese city of Wuhan, investigating the origins of COVID-19. They have already commenced field visits to the Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, from where Beijing says the first infections were reported, as well as the technical institutions and laboratories in the city, including the virology institute in Wuhan, which has built an archive of genetic information about bat Coronaviruses after the 2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
Dr Nabarro refused to rule out the theory that the virus may have originated in a lab in Wuhan, saying “all options are on the table”.
“There will be theories about how this virus originated including what we call a laboratory incident and that has to be assessed,” he said. “I can’t rule anything out and I know the team on the spot, as well as those we’re talking to in China, they’re not ruling anything out either.”
