BRITAIN’S bold strategy to delay Covid jab doses was yesterday backed by the World Health Organisation.
The approval came as it was revealed that Prince Charles, 72, and Camilla, 73, had received their first doses. It is believed a royal doctor administered Camilla’s injection at her home in Wiltshire.
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Charles — who had a mild bout of coronavirus last March — is understood to be in London this week but it has not been confirmed where he was inoculated. The pair waited their turn as over-70s were offered the jab.
The WHO yesterday recommended waiting eight to 12 weeks between injections — shutting down critics of the UK’s move.
Experts also cleared the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine for use in all adults with “no upper age limit”.
Some countries have refused to use it on over-65s, and European leaders made baseless claims about its efficacy.
But Dr Kate O’Brien, director of the Department of Immunisation, Vaccines and Biologicals at the WHO, said: “There is no reason to constrain the AZ vaccine from general use.”
Boris Johnson welcomed the WHO’s support for the Oxford vaccine and the 12-week interval between the two doses. The Prime Minister added: “They say the longer interval provides greater protection.”
One of the places where the Oxford doses were being used yesterday was a temporary vaccination centre in an Odeon cinema in Maidstone, Kent.