University of B.C.-assisted research suggests waiting longer between first and second COVID-19 vaccination doses provides better immunity.

According to a press release, a peer-reviewed study with principal investigator Brian Grunau, UBC department of emergency medicine professor, found that 鈥渁 longer dose interval (of mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer and Moderna) leads to a stronger immune response.鈥� The research, published Tuesday (Nov. 30), compared blood tests from 186 paramedics, some who received their shots in under the recommended four weeks and others who were vaccinated after six to seven weeks.

鈥淲e found significantly higher levels of antibodies in individuals who had longer vaccine intervals, and this was consistent regardless of which mRNA vaccine was administered,鈥� Grunau said in the press release.

With half of the people in the world vaccinated, the research has 鈥渋mplications for the ongoing global vaccination effort,鈥� stated the press release. Increasing time between doses could see better 鈥渓ong-term immune response鈥� and lead to better 鈥渃ommunity-level access鈥� to first vaccine shots, it said.

鈥淭his longer interval strategy enables early access to first doses in the population and ensuring the best protection possible with the two-dose series,鈥� said Grunau.

People who participated in the study are part of the larger COVID-19 Occupational Risks, Seroprevalence and Immunity among Paramedics project, said the press release, a Canada-wide study looking at the pandemic鈥檚 effect on paramedics.

Research was funded by money from the Government of Canada鈥檚 COVID-19 Immunity Task Force.

According to the latest COVID-19 numbers from the health ministry, there were 375 new cases reported in the province and 88.4 per cent of eligible adults in the province have received two vaccine shots.

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