Resource: FDA Statement on Following the Authorized Dosing Schedules for COVID-19 Vaccines
Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Synopsis: The FDA has followed discussions and news reports regarding dosing of the two vaccines which are now being used for COVID-19. Some of these reports talk about reducing the number of doses, extending the length of time between doses, changing the dose to half dosing, or mixing and matching vaccines in order to immunize more people against COVID-19. However, the FDA wants to emphasize that the FDA authorized dosing and schedules are supported by extensive evidence. The aforementioned reports are not supported by such extensive evidence. To be clear, for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, the interval is 21 days between the first and second dose and for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the interval is 28 days between the first and second dose.
Comment: This schedule must be followed to allow for optimal efficacy of the vaccine which allows the immune response to be optimal; otherwise, patients may assume they are fully protected when they are not and potentially alter their behavior to take unnecessary risks. The FDA has invested an enormous amount of time to make decisions based on data and science. They strongly encourage healthcare providers to follow the FDA authorized dosing schedule for each COVID-19 vaccine.
