Mixing two types of Covid-19 vaccines scientifically possible: Centre

A study in the UK said recently that it is safe to mix doses of different types of vaccines, but side effects cannot be ruled out.

"It is plausible. But there need to be more studies. It can't be said definitively that mixing of doses can be practised. There is no robust scientific evidence. Only time will tell whether it will be done in future or not, It will depend on international studies, World Health Organization findings etc. Our experts are also continuously studying," Niti Aayog (health) member VK Paul said on Saturday, reported Hindustan Times.

"One shot of one type produces antibodies and the second shot from another will increase that. Scientifically, there is no problem," he added.

So far, India has used two vaccines--Covishield and Covaxin-- to inoculate people. Both the vaccines have to be administered twice, the second dose being the booster dose.

In its several advisories, the health ministry has repetitively cautioned that the second dose of the same vaccine should be taken.

The study which said that mixing of two vaccines is safe involved 2,000 volunteers. A group was administered an Oxford vaccine shot and another Pfizer while the rest of them were given another combination of Moderna and Novavax.

The trial was aimed at finding the immune response of the volunteers and the adverse effects were found to be short lived. It, however, did not study the effectiveness of the mixed approach.