AstraZeneca win: UK has ‘stronger immunity’ than EU nations – ‘could be better’ long term

Speaking to Sky News’ Kay Burley on Wednesday, Professor Paul Moss from the Institute of Immunology at the University of Birmingham said the approach used by the UK to roll out the AstraZeneca jab quickly and with specific intervals between jabs have helped the UK prevent the coronavirus waves being seen in Europe.

It comes as AstraZeneca chief executive Pascal Soriot has said the decision by other countries not to use his jab on elderly people could be why Europe is gripped by soaring infections.

Professor Moss: “We started [vaccinating] in December last year and therefore saw the waning [in infections].

“Out policy was to create a longer-term immunity during the summer and I think that has given us the benefit.”

He also noted how extending the interval between vaccine doses from three to ten-twelve weeks has given Britons “stronger immunity” against the virus.

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Professor Moss noted how the AstraZeneca vaccine also gives “very strong cellular immunity”.

He emphasised how in the “long term” such immunity could be “beneficial”.

But he noted there is not quite concrete evidence in place to be sure.

Professor Moss said how the booster jab takes protection to “another level” against the virus to 93-percent.

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France, Germany and Greece could also soon make booster jabs a requirement for their citizens to be considered fully vaccinated.

But implementation of new measures to combat the spread of infection across the continent sparked fury from citizens in Belgium, the Netherlands and Austria last week as citizens rioted in protest at new draconian laws.

But the protests turned violent in Rotterdam last week as Dutch police open-fired on protesters to keep them back, while in Brussels on Sunday water cannon was deployed to disperse furious protesters who raged at being barred from cafe’s and restaurants without a vaccine pass.

It comes as AstraZeneca chief executive Pascal Soriot said the decision by other countries not to use his jab on elderly people could be why Europe is gripped by soaring infections.