CORONAVIRUS

Covid vaccine booster delay will help to save lives, says science chief

Some doctors have criticised the policy of delaying people’s second vaccination by up to 12 weeks
Some doctors have criticised the policy of delaying people’s second vaccination by up to 12 weeks
JANE BARLOW/PA

A scientific adviser to the government insisted that delaying Covid-19 vaccine booster shots would “save many lives” as a row over the policy continued.

Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), said that the body had assessed the available data and concluded that one shot of the Pfizer-Biontech jab would confer an acceptable level of protection.

The decision to delay booster shots was made to maximise the number of people who get one injection. However, some doctors have continued to criticise the policy, which allows for an interval as long as 12 weeks.

Professor Harnden said that the policy was justifiable. The JCVI, which advises the government on how to use vaccines, had taken into account data