Pfizer clarifies that the second dose must be applied 21 days later

The statements given by the Minister of Health, Fernando Ruiz Gómez, about the vaccination process with the doses of Pfizer, the biopharmaceutical issued a statement in which it clarifies that the second vaccine must be applied in 21 days and not in 12 weeks. The Minister had stated that countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Norway, France, among others, had chosen to apply the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine 12 weeks after the first dose.

In his statement Pfizer says: “Our position is supported by the label and indication agreed upon with the regulars and is based on data from our phase three study. In this study, it was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the vaccine after a two-dose program, separated by 21 days ”.

He concludes, “The safety and efficacy of the vaccine has not been evaluated in different dosing schedules, as most of the trial participants received their second dose within the interval specified in the study design (21 days).”

Health Minister Ruiz Gómez addressed the Pfizer statement and confirmed that the 12-week interval for the two doses of the vaccine is supported by scientific evidence and experience from other countries.

In this regard, Ruiz pointed out that there is no contradiction between the recommendations of the pharmaceutical company and the measure adopted. The spacing between doses of 21 days is part of the initial studies carried out by Pfizer, but the decision made by the Ministry based on the recommendation of the different scientific associations, the consensus of experts, the Vaccine Advisory Committee and the Colombian Association of Infectology, is taken based on the evidence.

This evidence shows that the efficacy of the Pfizer vaccine increases as the second dose is spaced to 12 weeks.