Thread by @JeromeAdamsMD

I believe in following the science, but I also believe we must always discuss, and when data and circumstances dictate, have the fortitude to change recommendations. And based on what I’ve seen, I think we need to delay the second dose of #COVID19 vax.

globalnews.ca/news/7647751/p…

The bird in hand we have offers the possibility of 1.5-2x number of available vaccine doses right now. The “two in the bush” is a hedge against the possibility that people won’t come back for a delayed second dose, or won’t achieve/ maintain high enough levels of immunity. 2/?

Studies are increasingly showing one dose of mRNA vax is highly effective, and provides protection for much longer than 1st thought. I just don’t think the fear that people won’t come back, or that immunity will wane in 3 months, outweighs people infected/ dying right now... 3/?

I also think that we were promised increased use of DPA and other policies to massively increase vax production. If that promise is kept, we should see rapidly increasing number of doses, and 2nd dose issues should be moot point in near future. But people infected/ dying now. 4/?

There is very real and tangible scientific benefit to increasing available doses now. There is a potential (and as yet unproven) benefit to not changing current stance on 2nd dose. And we are in race- a sprint vs marathon at this point- against variants. 5/?

Science can move slowly, & govt can move even slower. I’m open to having my mind changed but right now I haven’t heard much more than “because science” & “because we said so” regarding not changing vax recs- but again the science and landscape have changed, so we deserve more.6/?

If I were in the room, I’d be asking for more of an explanation for why with taxpayer funded vax doses, so many still can’t get them due to a policy that seems less and less scientifically sound. I’m not in the room, so I’m asking on Twitter. And maybe Congress should ask. 7/?

And finally, I’m not saying it’s wrong to maintain current position/ policy. I’m saying based on the info/ explanations/ science available to the public, MANY scientists and public health experts feel the benefits of delaying 2nd dose could > risk. So let’s talk about it. Fin