Thread by @celinegounder

1/ To be clear... I've only moved from being firmly against delaying 2nd doses to reconsidering / being on the fence.
statnews.com/2021/04/02/dem… -@levfacher

https://twitter.com/celinegounder/status/1377331022589788161

2/ As a scientist, I think it's really important to reevaluate your conclusions as more data comes in.

Models help us think through and weigh different scenarios, but are not the same as empirical evidence.

3/ This model finds that the strength of vaccine neutralizing antibody responses may be less critical than slowing the rate of viral transmission in preventing the emergence of mutant variants.
nature.com/articles/s4157…

4/ Some of the differences in opinion derive, I think, from whether we're more worried about the B.1.1.7 variant that's driving our current surge, or whether we're more worried about the B.1.351 and P.1 variants and others like it, which demonstrate potential for immune evasion.

5/ Faced with B.1.351 or P.1 variant... or another variant with the E484K eeek mutation, I would want 2 doses of Pfizer/Moderna in my system and on time.

Immunity is on a continuum. It's not as binary.

6/ Big picture, we need to break down academic siloes.

We need more interdisciplinary analysis and thinking (e.g. epidemiologists, modelers, virologists, and immunologists).

Siloes create blindspots in our thinking.

7/ Also... with almost 205M doses delivered and almost 158M doses administered... I don't think delaying for 2nd doses is solving for the right problem if you're trying to speed up vaccination and get more of the population covered.