Doctors call for gap between Pfizer vaccine doses to be reduced

Although the Department of Health and Social Care insists they conducted an in-depth review of the data available before extending the maximum gap between doses of both vaccines, the BMA have still highlighted their concern. Appearing on BBC Breakfast, chair of the BMA, Dr Chaand Nagpaul, said that while they shared the government's urgency to roll out the vaccine to as many people as possible, he was concerned that the UK had opted to take a "unique" approach. "Our concern is that the UK's position is unique internationally," he said. "The World Health Organization has analysed through its experts the delay of the second dose and what they have said is that they recommend the dose being given according to the manufacturer's recommendation of three to four weeks and in exceptional circumstances, to delay that to up to 42 days." He later added: "No other nation has adopted the UK's approach. We think the flexibility the WHO has offered - to 42 days - is being stretched far too much in going from six weeks right through to 12 weeks... What we are saying is that we should be following the guidance that is being adopted by the WHO and follow it to be able to maximise the protection of the population but also healthcare staff." https://twitter.com/Haggis_UK/status/1352914599717306369