SL closely monitors mixing and matching approved vaccine

According to a Minister, Sri Lanka regularly monitors the mixing and matching of Astrazeneca vaccine with Pfizer or Moderna vaccine in nations such as Canada. A scarcity of 600,000 Astrazeneca vaccines for the second dosage is now affecting Sri Lanka.

Prof. Channa Jayasumana, State Minister of Pharmaceutical Production, Supply, and Regulation, said that mixing and matching licensed vaccinations had occurred in certain countries of the world, including Canada, France, and Germany.

In most cases, he noted, Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has amended its guidelines to enable mixing and matching of approved Covid-19 vaccinations.

According to a news report published in the Khaleej Times, people who received a first dose of the Astrazeneca vaccine may receive a second dose of Pfizer-biontech or Moderna, unless contraindicated, under the updated guidance. Pfizer, Moderna, Astrazeneca, and Johnson & Johnson have all developed vaccines that have been approved for use in Canada.

“According to the revised guidelines, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines can be blended for the first and second doses.

However, “because of safety concerns and limited data on the use of this combination, it is not recommending Astrazeneca after a first shot of Pfizer or Moderna,” according to the newspaper.

(KELUM BANDARA)