Chinese trial mixes Covid-19 vaccines using different technologies
- CanSino Biologics shot was given to participants in Jiangsu and they will later receive the Anhui Zhifei Longcom jab
- Similar trials are being carried out in Britain and Russia, with another awaiting approval in Italy
A trial began earlier this month to give a first dose of the adenovirus-vectored vaccine made by CanSino Biologics, followed by a protein subunit vaccine produced by Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical, according to a clinical trials registration site run by a department under the US National Institutes of Health.
The Jiangsu Centre for Disease Control and Prevention is conducting the trial, with 120 people taking part in the eastern province, and they expect preliminary results in mid-June.
Similar trials are being carried out in Britain and Russia, and one is planned for Italy, to test whether it is possible to mix vaccines as a way to provide lasting immunity and more flexibility.
For now, Chinese health authorities do not recommend mixing vaccines that use different technologies, or sequential immunisation, but the guidelines state that people can be given different brands that use the same technology.
02:01
China considers mixing Covid-19 vaccine types to boost effectiveness