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After a pair of reports suggested that one dose of COVID-19 vaccine is nearly as effective as two, Rep. Andrew P. Harris (R-Md.) on Friday urged Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) to shift Maryland鈥檚 vaccination policy, as a way of stretching the state鈥檚 supply without diminishing the public鈥檚 benefits.
The state鈥檚 response: Thanks, but no, thanks.
In his letter to the governor, Harris, an anesthesiologist, cited a study of 9,100 heath care workers in Israel who received one dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, instead of the two that the drugmaker recommends.
Researchers later found that the single-dose was 85% effective in blocking infection two to four weeks later.
The manufacturers鈥� own studies, on a much larger group of vaccine recipients, showed the vaccine to be 95% effective if subjects were given two doses three weeks apart.
In light of similar findings, the British government decided to prioritize聽, allowing up to 12 weeks between the two.
鈥淲e can look to the current success of the United Kingdom, who has similarly faced vaccine scarcity, and feel assured that the data now indicates this is a safe approach to protecting as many as possible,鈥� Harris told Hogan.
鈥淚n addition to significantly broadening our vaccinated population at comparable protective levels, such a policy would also complement efforts by mRNA vaccine manufacturers to produce variant-specific boosts,鈥� he added.
At a press briefing on Friday, the nation鈥檚 top experts said there would be no change in U.S. vaccine policy.
鈥淭here are studies all the time, there are preprints all the time, there is real-world evidence all the time,鈥� said Andy Slavitt, the White House senior adviser for COVID-19 response.
鈥淥ne study, even though it may look attractive, it may capture a headline 鈥� it isn鈥檛 always what it appears to be,鈥� he added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to understand we鈥檙e not going to be persuaded by one study that happens to grab headlines.鈥�
In early January, 聽optimal dosing levels and the length of time between them 鈥渁re all reasonable questions to consider and evaluate in clinical trials.鈥�
鈥淗owever, at this time, suggesting changes to the FDA-authorized dosing or schedules of these vaccines is premature and not rooted solidly in the available evidence,鈥� the agency added. 鈥淭he available data continue to support the use of two specified doses of each authorized vaccine at specified intervals. For the Pfizer-BioNTech 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.鈥�
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the Israeli study is worthy of follow-up, but he cautioned that the subjects were 鈥測ounger and healthier,鈥� on average, than the population as a whole.
Double-dosing, he said, also offers more protection against COVID-19 variants, particularly for people with compromised immune systems.
鈥淚f you look at the difference between the degree, the intensity of response after a first dose and compare it to after a second dose, the second dose has 10 times higher levels of neutralizing antibodies,鈥� he told reporters on Friday.
In a statement, Charles L. Gischlar, a spokesman for the Maryland Department of Health, said, 鈥淭he state adheres to federal vaccination guidelines and protocols and follows the science to ensure that individuals are properly vaccinated.鈥�
A Harris spokesman did not respond to a request for an interview.
