Booster vaccine against COVID-19 is being tested in the UK.

According to the data available today, no coronavirus vaccine can provide lifelong immunity, and therefore many will need to be re-vaccinated from time to time. There is no data yet on which drug is effective and safe for re-vaccination, and scientists in the UK intend to find out.

UK health secretary Matt Hancock announced clinical trials of Cov-Boost, during which it is planned to determine the effectiveness of the third dose of the vaccine of drugs from 7 manufacturers: AstraZeneca, Pfizer and BioNTech, Moderna, Novavax, Valneva, Janssen and Curevac. These are the first studies of this kind in the world to obtain data on the effect of a booster dose of a vaccine on the immune response of previously vaccinated patients.

Tests are scheduled to begin in June. They will be held at medical centers in different cities of the kingdom with the participation of 2,886 volunteers who have previously been vaccinated against the coronavirus. Each participant will receive a third dose of one of the 7 drugs at least 10-12 weeks after the first component is administered. Participants who receive the first two doses of a drug from one manufacturer are expected to receive the vaccine from another manufacturer.

Scientists will monitor the immune response of vaccinated participants 24, 84, 308 and 365 days after vaccination using blood tests. Also, volunteers will regularly fill out questionnaires about their health and, if necessary, contact a doctor.

Researchers plan to receive the first data on the effectiveness and safety of the booster vaccine as early as September 2021. It is assumed that the drug that will show the best results will be used in the UK in the lead-up to winter, when a new rise in incidence is possible.