(Newser)
– With the number of vaccinations in the US far behind the program, health authorities have a number of possibilities to increase the number. One is halving the dose of the Modern vaccine to expand reserves, a proposal the FDA is expected to consider this week. But like New York Times reports, another controversial proposal is widely circulated, one that calls for the second shot to be delayed – the “shot” – so that more people can get the initial shot. Three vaccines now used around the world, from Moderna, Pfizer and AstraZeneca, require people to receive a second dose about three or four weeks later on the hill. But supporters say pushing back this timetable would allow more people to receive the first blow and get at least one measure of protection. Not everyone, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, agrees.
“I would not be in favor of this,” he said last week, adding on Sunday that the strategy “goes against science,” CNBC reports. There is not enough data to support the idea that the plan is safe, says Fauci. But in a Washington Post op-ed, two health officials say the delay in the second blow makes sense. Cases are on the rise, and supply is limited, and something needs to be given, writes Robert Wachter of the University of California at San Francisco and Ashish Jha of Brown University. Yes, the data is not complete, but what we have is “reassuring”, they write. “In a perfect world, there would be no compromises. But if 2020 teaches us anything, it’s that we don’t live in a perfect world.” Britain has taken the approach of delaying the second blow, Hill notes. About 4 million Americans have been vaccinated, well below the target of over 20 million so far. (Read more stories about the coronavirus vaccine.)