Evidence For COVID-19 Vaccine Deferred Dose 2 Boost Timing

Abstract

Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccine trials used accelerated methods to achieve rapid FDA approval with minimal and wise compromises. While many established vaccines use boost / dose 2 timings that are typically in the 3 to 120 months range , dose 2 timings for both trials were less than 30 days as part of a crucial effort to rapidly develop a vaccine with significant efficacy. Data from both trials showed excellent dose 1 efficacy; however, neither of the related Safety and Efficacy publications highlighted this dose 1 efficacy excellence.

The trials, manufacturing, and distribution programs have rapidly delivered millions of doses to points of care. However, the ability to administer these doses at localities as rapidly as they can be distributed has been shown as the largest current challenge to achieving the widespread vaccination. Improvements could reduce mortality rates that presently exceed 2000 per day, avoid serious cases at a time where hospital census is at full capacity or beyond, and minimize long-term sequelae.

This study suggests that it is possible to achieve these and other goals by recognizing the evidence for COVID-19 vaccine deferred boost timing and using a more conventional, decades-tested, boost timing on the order of months. This would enable currently limited US resources to effectively double the population being vaccinated over the next few months, enabling more rapid vaccination of those at highest-risk for severe infections.

Note: Funding: The authors performed all work on this study without compensation as an act of good will and statesmanship and have no beneficial affiliations with any institutions related to the work.

Declaration of Interests: The authors have declared no competing interest.

Keywords: COVID-19, Moderna, Pfizer, Vaccine, Efficacy, Immunology, Immunity, mRNA, BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, Evidence, Boost Timing, Dose 2

JEL Classification: I, C, H