Covid-19: Booster dose will be needed in autumn to avoid winter surge, says government adviser
BMJ 2021; 372 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n664 (Published 09 March 2021) Cite this as: BMJ 2021;372:n664Read our latest coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

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Dear Editor
Will we have to have the same vaccine i.e Pfizer that we had in our initial doses. ?
Competing interests: No competing interests
Dear Editor
As a patient and EU citizen who resides partly in UK, I have a concern over the choice of Covid-19 vaccine being offered.
It seems in UK patients have to accept what if offered, which invariably means the default option, the Astra Zeneca vaccine. The Pfizer-Biotech vaccine being in limited usage.
Despite the row between the EU Commission & UK over vaccines, the Astra Zeneca vaccine itself is not popular with patients or clinicians across the EU for various reasons (perceived ineffectiveness for over 65s, safety risks, adverse reactions).
Most health services in EU member states offer patients a choice of vaccine, why cannot UK NHS offer the same? It seems health procurement is not very transparent in UK judging by the recent action taken by the Good Law project.
The proposed winter booster I assume will be from the same brand that is Astra Zeneca? Or will a different type/brand be deployed, which compromises consent to vaccinate and other issues, as several correspondents have previously raised concerning covid-19 vaccines.
Competing interests: No competing interests
Re: Covid-19: Booster dose will be needed in autumn to avoid winter surge, says government adviser
Dear Editor
“Booster doses will be required in the autumn,” says the headline.
Will the booster dose be of the same vaccine as was used for the first two doses? The MHRA ought to clarify now.
According to a BBC report today, the MHRA seems to be speaking with a forked tongue. It says that “Astra Zeneca risks and benefits are finely balanced in younger women”.
Since no one has yet suggested that the Pfizer is risky in the matter of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis, could the MHRA not clearly advise that younger women should avoid Astra Zeneca?
Dr JK Anand
Competing interests: Had two jabs of Astra Zeneca