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London (dpa) - British researchers want to test the vaccine effectiveness in a clinical study in a combination of two different active ingredients.
As announced by the National Institute for Health Research, the two vaccines from Biontech / Pfizer and Oxford / Astrazeneca, which have so far been approved in Great Britain, are to be used in different sequences as the first and second dose.
Further preparations could be added later, it said in the message.
The study, which was launched today, is expected to include more than 800 volunteers in England aged 50 and over.
At the same time, the researchers also want to find out what effect different intervals of four to twelve weeks between the administration of the two doses have.
Both vaccines are currently being administered in the UK up to twelve weeks apart.
In the country, more than ten million people have already received a first dose of vaccine, while only around 500,000 people have been vaccinated twice.
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With potential bottlenecks in vaccine supply, it is definitely beneficial to have data that allows for more flexible vaccine delivery, said UK government's chief medical advisor Jonathan Van-Tam.
He added: "It is also possible that the combination of vaccines could increase the immune response and produce longer lasting and higher levels of antibodies," said Van-Tam.
That must now be tested.
Russian researchers announced a similar study at the end of last year.
A combination of the Russian vaccine "Sputnik V" and the vaccine from the British pharmaceutical company Astrazeneca will be used.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210204-99-297654 / 2
Announcement on the website of the National Institute for Health Research