France opts for mRNA vaccines for second coronavirus shot

France said those who took the first dose of AstraZeneca’s traditional COVID-19 vaccine and who are under 55 should get a second shot with a new-style messenger-RNA (mRNA) vaccine.

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The Haute Autorite de la Sante (HAS) regulator also said on Friday there should be an interval of 12 weeks between the two shots, in such cases.

“We recommend a study to assess the immune responses given by these mixed vaccine prescriptions,” HAS said.

Two mRNA vaccines, one from Pfizer and BioNTech and another from Moderna, have been approved for use in France.

Trust in the AstraZeneca vaccine has dropped in Europe since a very few, mostly young, recipients of the shot were found to have suffered extremely unusual blood clots.

MTO/Reuters