The Dutch health council Gezondheidsraad has said it sees no objection to people who have had one dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine having a second shot of BioNTech/Pfizer.

The combination of the two vaccines offers good protection against Covid-19, the health council said in a recommendation to health minister Hugo de Jonge.

British research has shown that a dose of AstraZeneca followed by Pfizer leads to the creation of more antibodies than two doses of AstraZeneca after a month. A Pfizer, followed by AstraZeneca combination, however, leads to the creation of fewer antibodies.

The council did not look at the usefulness of giving people who have been fully vaccinated a third vaccine dose, but director Bart-Jan Kullberg told NPO Radio that international research is underway into this option.

In the Netherlands, the AstraZeneca vaccine has only been given to people in their early 60s, who are less likely to be affected by potential health risks.