AstraZeneca second dose, Galli: “Mix vaccines can be done, it’s not Frankenstein”

The vaccine mix “can be done. And the ‘can be done’ in this case is not Dr. Frankenstein’s.” Professor Massimo Galli ‘promotes’ the mix between the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine, reserved for over 60s, and the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna. “On the one hand, a discourse of strict scientific rigor would require compliance with experimental rules. On the other hand there is the empirical data, from countries where the mix has been abundantly used, on the basis of which the reactions are not such as to to say ‘it cannot be done’ ‘The’ can be done ‘in this case is not that of Dr. Frankenstein, it begins to have a not entirely negligible basis “, says the head of infectious diseases of the Sacco di Milano in Cartabianca. “In my opinion and feeling, not supported by a huge number of data, the mix works better than some double vaccinations, in particular contexts and on certain subjects. But I’m the first to say that you need a few more elements”, he says before to propose another theme: “Those who have undergone the first vaccination with AstraZeneca and have significant antibodies could stay put,” he says, suggesting the possibility of avoiding the second dose for some subjects. Read also The limitations to the AstraZeneca vaccine were triggered after the last cases of thrombosis, in particular the fatal one that involved an 18-year-old in Liguria. “There are 2 very important issues to consider. You have to vaccinate quickly, the advantages of using a vaccine like AstraZeneca outweigh the risks. Vaccinating a lot reduces the risk of certain deaths from covid. Now we have reached a number of vaccinated people. such as to determine a decrease in infections, hospitalizations and progressively deaths. At this point it becomes important to consider the risk / benefit ratio at an individual and not just a collective level. If we have climbed the hill and we have a sufficient number of vaccines, we should and should avoid using a valid vaccine but one that has a problem in an age group and especially for women, “says Galli.