Matthew Snape leads first trial exploring alternating COVID-19 vaccine doses

St Cross Member of Common Room Professor Matthew Snape, Associate Professor in Paediatrics and Vaccinology at the University of Oxford, is the Chief Investigator of the first trial to explore alternating different COVID-19 vaccines.

The COVID-19 Heterologous Prime Boost Study is being run by the National Immunisation Schedule Evaluation Consortium (NISEC). Researchers will evaluate four different combinations of prime (initial) and booster (follow-up) vaccinations: Oxford-AstraZeneca prime and booster, Pfizer prime and booster, or Oxford-AstraZeneca prime with a Pfizer booster, and vice versa.

Professor Snape said: "If we do show that these vaccines can be used interchangeably in the same schedule this will greatly increase the flexibility of vaccine delivery, and could provide clues as to how to increase the breadth of protection against new virus strains."

Professor Snape talked about his research in an episode of 60 Minutes Australia, you can watch the episode here.

Read further on the University's website here. If you are interested in volunteering, you can find out more about the study at comcovstudy.org.uk.