The AstraZeneca Covid jab may be so effective Brits could avoid booster jab, the head of the drugs company said.
Pascal Soriot, chief executive of the UK pharmaceutical giant, said he is hoping data expected in the autumn could show immunity lasts for years with the jab providing strong “T-cell immunity”.
Mr Soriot said: “We hope that the Oxford-AstraZeneca will provide longer term protection.
“The science so far suggests that our vaccine provides a strong T-cell response which I hope means its effects will last longer.”
Mr Soriot said the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, based on the same technology as AstraZeneca’s, has shown to “provide years of protection”.
Pfizer has acknowledged that the efficacy of its mRNA jabs shows a decline in levels of protection after six months and the firm is recommending a booster.
Mr Soriot added: “So, it looks good but we don’t yet know for sure whether you will need a booster. Time will tell.”
Millions of Brits are expected to be offered third Covid jabs to shore up protections against the virus under interim advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
The plan, first announced at the end of June, would see the over 70s, the clinically vulnerable, care home residents, and front line NHS and care staff among the first to get a booster.
Over-50s and anyone entitled to a free flu jab would be next in line if the JCVI experts confirm the move in their final advice this month.
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The Daily Telegraph reports that the rollout of booster jabs will start in September, with the aim of all over-50s receiving one by two weeks before Christmas.
It has also been suggested that people could be offered the Pfizer vaccine as a booster, regardless of whether they have previously received the Oxford AstraZeneca jab.
But No10 said reports in the Daily Mail that all patients will be offered Pfizer as it is the most effective against the Delta variant were "premature".
A source said the JCVI was yet to provide its clinical advice.
The Department of Health said there was no update to the JCVI's recommendation earlier this summer.
The initial advice was offered to allow the NHS to prepare in the event that a mass booster programme is needed this autumn.
Vaccine experts believe there is good evidence that jabs can offer protection against Covid for at least six months and will be studying the data to see if boosters are necessary.
The elderly and the most vulnerable received their vaccines earlier this year, meaning they could be in need of a booster if immunity does begin to wane.
