AstraZeneca PLC (LSE:AZN)’s chief executive has said that caution needs to exercised over booster jabs for people in the UK as it might add an unnecessary burden in the NHS.
A decision on whether to rollout third doses for the UK population is imminent with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) waiting on results from a study in Southampton that has several different booster vaccines.
In a letter to the Telegraph, Pascal Soriot, AstraZeneca's chief executive, and Sir Mene Pangalos, the Executive Vice President of BioPharmaceuticals R&D, wrote that in just a few weeks Britain would have a definitive answer on how effective two vaccine jabs are in providing continued protective immunity.
“Moving too quickly to boost across the entire adult population will deprive us of these insights, leaving this important decision to rest on limited data,” he said.
“A third dose for all may be needed, but it may not. Mobilising the NHS for a boosting programme that is not needed would potentially add an unnecessary burden on the NHS over the long winter months.
“Because NHS staff and resources are scarce, another national mobilisation would potentially leave us with fewer resources for cancer screenings and the other care provided by doctors and nurses each day.”
Soriot added that it is known that “AstraZeneca’s vaccine is highly protective against severe forms of the disease.
“Clinical trials have shown a strong immune response up to 45 weeks after a second dose, in particular a high level of T-cells which are critical for a lasting immunity.
"A third dose boosted antibody levels six-fold with a continued strong T-cell response, but we do not yet know whether that third dose is clinically needed. “
The government has already said that the most vulnerable sections of the community will get third jabs ahead of winter with the report today suggesting that the NHS is looking at combining the booster with the annual flu jab programme.
Shares in AstraZeneca eased 1.7% to 8,329p.