Wait between Covid vaccines ‘could be reduced to four weeks’ as restrictions ease

The government is reportedly aiming to narrow the gap between vaccine doses from eight to four weeks.

With the threat of the Delta variant and the easing of restrictions, ministers want vaccine deployment to accelerate.

It comes as the latest figures from Public Health England show cases of the dominant variant Delta have increased by a third over the past week.

A total of 216,249 confirmed and probable cases of this variant, first identified in India and now accounting for around 99% of confirmed cases of coronavirus across the UK.

The majority of people admitted to hospital in England with the Delta variant are not vaccinated, according to figures from PHE.

Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization has been urged to endorse faster schedule for jabs, reports Sunday Times.

A No.10 source told the newspaper the committee had been asked to provide urgent advice on the pros and cons of reducing the dose interval to four weeks.

If the green light was given, it would also allow many more people to travel abroad this summer and avoid quarantine – something that must be made possible for people on both doses.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to confirm on Monday that a definitive easing of coronavirus restrictions will take place in England on July 19.

The government has said it will have offered all adults in England a first dose by July 19.

It is estimated that around 86% of adults in England have received one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, with around 65% having received both doses.

Vaccine use varies among different age groups, with over 95% of people aged 50 to 79 estimated to have received a dose.

Among younger groups, 88% of 40-49 year olds are likely to have received a dose, along with 78% of 30-39 year olds and 60% of 18-29 year olds.

Chris Hopson, Managing Director of NHS Providers, said: ‘We have had a significant number of trusted CEOs this week who have said they are very concerned about the number of unvaccinated young people who contract Covid, showing mild symptoms but then returning relatively early with much more severe long-term symptoms.

“The leaders are concerned that we could look back in six or nine months and say that the quick and complete easing of restrictions was a mistake because if we had waited a few more weeks we would have a lot more young doubles. vaccinated.”

Health officials have asked vaccination centers to follow guidelines that no one should receive their second dose within eight weeks of their first vaccine, with PHE saying “there is evidence of better immune response and / or protection when longer intervals between doses are used “

The government is pushing for more young men in particular to be vaccinated.

There has been a general decline in demand for vaccines, and nearly half of men aged 18 to 24 have missed a dose three weeks after it became available.

An advertising campaign is planned to encourage young people who could include the England team and influencers.

Fans attending England’s Euro 2020 final against Italy have been urged to take the opportunity to get a Covid vaccine at the Wembley vaccination center.

The concern is that young men are also the group with the highest number of infections with 41,462, having tested positive in the past fortnight, according to Public Health England.

Long-term Covid cases are feared to reach very high numbers if infections continue to rise.