Oxford’s Covid-19 vaccine creator, Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert has backed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) advice on not to start the booster program yet as several poorer countries have been unable to vaccinate even the vulnerable population.
"We get good protection after a single dose and then it's improved by a second dose and we would expect to see it being maintained,” said Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert.
Professor Gilbert, who began designing the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in early 2020 when Covid first emerged in China, said there were no signs of immunity waning in ongoing trials of the vaccine, which started in April 2020.
Professor agreed that some vulnerable groups might need booster shots all around the world, but also added that immunity was lasting well in the majority of the cases. Professor Gilbert also said the world needed more doses and more vaccine supplies, so there didn't need to be a choice between vaccinating one country over another.
"More doses are becoming available and we need to focus on getting those doses to countries that really need them," she said, adding that many African countries had only vaccinated 2% of their population.
Her statement has come at a time when Israel has already started vaccinating booster shots to all eligible citizens. Some other countries, such as the UK, too, are mulling over the booster campaign.
"We get good protection after a single dose and then it's improved by a second dose and we would expect to see it being maintained,” said Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert.
Professor Gilbert, who began designing the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in early 2020 when Covid first emerged in China, said there were no signs of immunity waning in ongoing trials of the vaccine, which started in April 2020.
Professor agreed that some vulnerable groups might need booster shots all around the world, but also added that immunity was lasting well in the majority of the cases. Professor Gilbert also said the world needed more doses and more vaccine supplies, so there didn't need to be a choice between vaccinating one country over another.
"More doses are becoming available and we need to focus on getting those doses to countries that really need them," she said, adding that many African countries had only vaccinated 2% of their population.
Her statement has come at a time when Israel has already started vaccinating booster shots to all eligible citizens. Some other countries, such as the UK, too, are mulling over the booster campaign.
