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Date Published: 13/05/2021
ARCHIVED - Mixing AstraZeneca and Pfizer Covid jabs could triple the risk of some side effects
Researchers reported that there are no safety concerns over combining the jabs but that mild side effects may be more likely.
As scientists continue to investigate whether different combinations of Covid vaccines could improve immune responses, the first results of a study into 830 people who received one dose each of the AstraZeneca and Pfizer jabs has found that the combination could increase the risk of side effects by three times.
Science publication The Lancet has published the results of a study carried out by experts at the University of Oxford which found that leaving a gap of four weeks between one dose of each of the vaccines produced more side effects after the second dose than after non-combined vaccines.
They reported that side effects were temporary however, and included fever, fatigue, headache and joint and muscle pain. Researchers also found the risk of suffering side effects from combined vaccines was higher in those aged over 50.
Scientists did report concerns that the increase in side effects could lead to more sick leave among health workers receiving the mixed Pfizer and AstraZeneca doses, however.
Spain’s Carlos III Health Institute is also examining the efficacy of combining the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines among continued controversy over the tens of thousands of health workers in Spain left in limbo after receiving one dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine before the government banned the jab for under 60s.
Spain’s central government has now confirmed it will make a decision over whether to give a second dose of the same vaccine to workers within the next week after criticism from regions including Andalucia, which has threatened to give the second jab to any workers who request it.
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