Professor Karina Butler:

First, I should point out that even after one dose of AstraZeneca vaccine, once about 21 days have elapsed, people are very well protected for at least a few months and probably longer. That is why we had the confidence in being able, for some, to stretch out that interval from 12 to 16 weeks while we got more information and protected against the severest forms of disease and hospitalisation. The good part is that the lady's husband has already had a dose of vaccine. That is very helpful. For someone in his position in terms of his high-risk status, the risk from Covid-19 many times outweighs any potential risk associated with the vaccine. Even given his age, he is at the lower end of whatever small risk there might be.

Regarding other vaccines, there simply are no data yet, although they will be coming out, as to whether what is called a mix-match or using a different vaccine is effective or even, perhaps, advantageous. Quite simply, we do not have that data at present. Studies are taking place in the UK which are likely to report over the next month. Similarly, France and Germany, which decided to go that route, will be getting information. That information will be emerging over time. Now, however, the best advice for somebody such as that man is that he would get his second dose of AstraZeneca. He would not be scheduled yet because the second doses are not scheduled until the first week in May or so. His risk from Covid-19 far exceeds any risk related to the vaccine. All we can do is inform and try to share the information with people, but we must respect the fact that they ultimately can make decisions for themselves.