Carmen Álvarez Domínguez
Expert in immunology, vaccines and immunotherapy
The data show that the second dose given two to six months after the first dose increases efficacy significantly more. Antibodies increase fourfold [over the first dose] if you give the second dose at two months and twelvefold if you inject it at six months.
The Janssen vaccine had very high efficacy with one dose, but when you give two doses you get 100 per cent protection [against severe cases] after 56 days.
The most important thing is that they see that after six months it also works and that it is even better than just the first dose. This means that you could give the second dose to people who have had the first dose even after such a long time.
Those who have been vaccinated in Spain have been vaccinated less than six months ago and could probably be given the second dose now.