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<p>Currently, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommends
an interval of eight weeks between doses of all the available COVID-19 vaccines; this
includes pregnant women. On 14 May 2021, in response to the increasing rates of infection
of the Delta variant, the Government amended the interval of second doses for the
most vulnerable cohorts who were offered a vaccine in phase one of the programme,
from 12 weeks to an eight-week gap. The eight-week dose interval was applied to all
eligible cohorts from 6 July.</p><p>It should be noted that current evidence shows
that a longer dose interval produces a better immune response. As such, the JCVI has
advised against reducing the dose interval further in order to maximise the effectiveness
of the vaccination programme. The JCVI regularly reviews its advice in relation to
COVID-19 vaccinations, taking into account new data and evidence on the effectiveness
of the programme and the ongoing epidemiological situation<em>.</em></p>
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