• Many countries in Europe are now using the mix and match strategy 

By Kelum Bandara   

Senior Professor of Medicine at Rajarata University Prof. Sisira Siribaddana said the ‘mix and match’ Covid-19 vaccines could boost the immune system.  

In an interview with Daily Mirror, he said early results of heterologous prime (first dose) boost (second dose) as AstraZeneca and Pfizer as second dose are available in Lancet and it shows increase in side effects, but mainly ameliorated by paracetamol.   

“Hence these side effects are not serious. Theoretically mixing of vaccines can boost the immune response. Many countries in Europe are now using the mix and match strategy in view of people who were given AstraZeneca vaccine doses first,” he said. (Read full interview on A 4) 

• It shows increase in side effects, but mainly ameliorated by paracetamol