Luxembourg's Ministry of Health has confirmed that the Grand Duchy will not consider applying a mix-and-match approach to COVID-19 vaccines until the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approves the practice.
The Health Ministry noted that several European Union (EU) member states have authorised heterologous vaccination regimens (also known as "mix-and-match" vaccination), i.e. the combination of two different COVID-19 vaccines. For instance, some EU residents may receive a first dose of Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) and a second dose of Comirnaty (BioNTech / Pfizer).
The ministry recalled that Luxembourg is not yet applying this strategy as part of its vaccine rollout, although a recommendation from the EMA on this subject is expected by the end of June. The EMA is currently analysing the data from various studies and will take a position as soon as this analysis is completed. Preliminary results from studies in Spain and Germany suggest a satisfactory immune response. Further data are expected soon, including those from the COM-COV and COM-COV-2 studies, which analyse a series of vaccination schedules in which different vaccines are administered for the first and second dose.
As soon as the position of the EMA is known, the Luxembourg government will advise if the national vaccination strategy needs to be adapted. In the meantime, the administration of one or another type of vaccine is subject to the case-by-case assessment made by a doctor with regard to the state of health of the person invited to be vaccinated. In the case of individuals who have a history of thromboembolism (blood clots) with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HITT or HIT Type 2), and in whom a second dose of the same vaccine is contraindicated, the vaccination schedule may be supplemented by a dose of Comirnaty, eight to twelve weeks later or as soon as their clinical state allows it.
