Research begins on mixing vaccines

30 April 2021 08:24 am - 40 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Research is underway on the possibility of mixing one Covid vaccine brand with another and the safety of giving two doses of another brand to an individual who has already obtained one dose of the AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine.

The research is being carried out as hopes of obtaining the AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine from India to administer as the second dose to those who already obtained the first jab of the same vaccine, begins to fade.

Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Samaraweera told reporters that with the current situation in India it is looking more and more difficult to believe that the Serum Institute will be in a position to dispatch the remaining AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine stocks ordered by Sri Lanka. He said that while discussions are still ongoing they do not expect to receive the Covishield vaccine anytime soon.

As a result, he said that research is being conducted into the mix and match option where one dose can be one vaccine and the second dose another vaccine brand. He said that if the research is successful then a different vaccine brand will be given to those who obtained the AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine.

Sri Lanka has so far used the AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine while stocks of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine are currently in Sri Lanka awaiting clearance to be used on locals. The Sputnik V vaccine purchased from Russian is also scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka soon. (Easwaran Rutnam)

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Comments - 40

Sambo Friday, 30 April 2021 08:35 AM

Try it on the politicians first.

Janaka Friday, 30 April 2021 08:38 AM

Didn’t the minister and her deputy keep assuring the public that they had enough at hand to carry out the 2nd vaccination? Now they want to do research. Do they have the necessary information and equipment? Are they part of the Oxford AstraZeneca group?!

asith Friday, 30 April 2021 08:39 AM

Ok, let's forget about the 2nd dose.

RoaringCreek Friday, 30 April 2021 08:54 AM

Who is conducting the research? This is not done anywhere else in the world. Even if done it will take at least six to one year as subjects need to monitored for efficacy and also side effects. In Japan people are reluctant to take the Pfizer vaccine claiming not enough research has been done.

Ravi Friday, 30 April 2021 08:54 AM

This is not research. If a local indigenous medical practitioner suggests similar mixing of different herbal medicines and see its effect , would you call it research.

gamini Friday, 30 April 2021 09:11 AM

nonsense who has authorized this foolish research which no other country has carried out and not recommended by WHO

saliya Friday, 30 April 2021 09:11 AM

why don't you also mix some Dhammika pani with it

Joshua Friday, 30 April 2021 09:12 AM

If the research is being carried out in SL, then good luck. We will accept a mix, only if WHO approves such a procedure.

S n Wickramaratne Friday, 30 April 2021 09:16 AM

Why research, just ask the Health minster and she will say yes to the Chinese vaccine, if not she will keep changing the research team until someone says yes.

Chris Friday, 30 April 2021 09:20 AM

Fail again

PD Friday, 30 April 2021 09:21 AM

What research? Are you going to conduct proper Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials? These people are so incompetent. My goodness. God help our people.

Ranaweera Friday, 30 April 2021 09:24 AM

Who is doing this research? Are our sleeping officers doing it. Then it would be dangerous. UK tried but did not implement. USA has got an enormous number of AstraZeneca vaccine which they are not using now. Getting down 600,000 may not be easy now. So those who got the first jab are still better off than those who got nothing.

Curious Friday, 30 April 2021 09:43 AM

This is like running the Ashok Leyland buses on the rail track.

VJ Friday, 30 April 2021 09:46 AM

Another first for Sri Lanka. We ought to be the country like no other.

Thomas Dharmachandra Friday, 30 April 2021 09:50 AM

Don't treat Sri Lankans to experiment different mix of vaccines,

Isaac Newton Friday, 30 April 2021 09:52 AM

The Englishmen gave us the Bread. We made it tastier with Pol Sambol.

Chux Friday, 30 April 2021 09:56 AM

No people should allow that government’s failure should not victimized innocent people

RoaringCreek Friday, 30 April 2021 10:02 AM

FAIL FAIL FAIL

Era Friday, 30 April 2021 10:02 AM

Let's experiment this on you and your clan of doctors. Then we will decide whether this can be done or not. What a stupid ass. Did Sa tell you that it will work.

Gamarala Friday, 30 April 2021 10:06 AM

Mixing of two types of vaccine has not been done anywhere in the world. The testing of such a cocktail needs to done by the respective vaccine manufactures and not these guys in Sri Lanka. It is also a long term process and side effects need to be monitored.

Samson Friday, 30 April 2021 10:51 AM

To get it approved a committee may be formed with the drs and profs in the house.

Seb Friday, 30 April 2021 10:55 AM

Craaaazy... Just allow private hospitals to import and sell so I can buy my own.

Siribiris Friday, 30 April 2021 10:56 AM

Definitely will say okay to mix . How do we know after effects as these research should do longer period .

being human Friday, 30 April 2021 11:18 AM

Y don't we primarily experiment this on any politicians..?

Sammy Friday, 30 April 2021 11:29 AM

Sri Lankans to be used as guinea pigs for this experiment. Risky to try out without expertise and experience available.

George Zenetar Friday, 30 April 2021 11:58 AM

Try to mix some whisky too.

Sumal Friday, 30 April 2021 12:07 PM

What a mess. Total incompetency in managing or foreseeing.

das Friday, 30 April 2021 01:22 PM

Democratic socialist

Mohamed Rizvi Friday, 30 April 2021 01:31 PM

Bullshit

Dee Friday, 30 April 2021 02:39 PM

So the frontline staff will be the guinea pigs! The commander should also test it

Ting Tong Friday, 30 April 2021 02:48 PM

Of course we are the tax paying guinea pigs of Sri Lanka

Ram Friday, 30 April 2021 02:53 PM

Is it to keep our population going or to eliminate?

Sam Silva Friday, 30 April 2021 05:02 PM

Who are they fooling? We have no capacity to conduct such research. Results will show Chinese vaccine mixed with Dammika pania will be the best!!This shows that the Govt does not know what vaccines are coming- as they have ot really ordered any yet. The COVAX we gave 3 months ago to 950,000 need their second vaccine now. We do not have the vaccines.

Dim Wit Friday, 30 April 2021 07:29 PM

First it was search. Now re-search?

Upali Samarajewa Saturday, 01 May 2021 07:36 PM

I believed that the persons in the medical profession knew basics of immunology. This story indicate that I am wrong in my belief and faith

saman Saturday, 01 May 2021 07:42 PM

There's no need to mix vaccines if they kept half of original batch as 2nd dose and administered the 1st half.

Demuni Uduwara Sunday, 02 May 2021 03:50 AM

You can do with any brand sans Moderna and Pfizer BioNtech which are not susceptible to regular fridge temperature for storage.

Fazal Khaffar Monday, 03 May 2021 08:19 AM

Actually there are human trials on vaccine mix and match going on in the UK,

Fazal Khaffar Monday, 03 May 2021 08:20 AM

Scientists are confident that vaccine mix and match will not cause any adverse effects (hence why human trials are going on) and hypothesize that it will increase both the efficacy and the longevity of the vaccine regimen...

Perera Wednesday, 12 May 2021 10:11 AM

Research.... what kind of research for different brand of vaccine. Ever cheating people playing with innocent people's life...

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Research begins on mixing vaccines

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