Stretched vaccine timelines re-enter the spotlight

Healthcare workers wait for their first dose of the  first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in Bogata, Colombia. | Photo by Juancho Torres/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

As the pandemic drags on, experts are exploring ways to stretch still-limited vaccine supplies to get as many people protected as possible. One idea that’s resurfaced this week involves allowing more time in between the first and second doses of the two-dose vaccines. This time, though, there’s some additional data that suggests it might work.

Here’s the idea: two leading vaccines, made by Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna require two doses. But their early data showed pretty significant protection after the first dose. That got people thinking — is it worth giving more people partial protection with just one dose? Or should they stick to the schedule and fully vaccinate fewer people?

Back in December, some experts encouraged researchers...

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