My limited understanding is for every 1st jab given, a 2nd dose is kept in reserve for that person.
Otherwise, the effect of the 1st dose ends up effectively being wasted if the 2nd is not given in the required timescale.
It’s an interesting one to watch, I don’t know the U.K. strategy to be honest, be interesting to see how things go in the next few weeks.
Id surmise the following the U.K. have been going billio, leading out on approx 30 mill first doses up to the end of March. The aim clearly was to get one dose into the arms of as many people as possible.
So at the end of March, the U.K. demand in their supply increases by 50%. By that I mean thats when what I’ll call the second dose debt, will kick in - simply when the really big numbers already vaccinated will need their second dose. The U.K. has been second doses of course, but the scale is about to ramp up significantly.
So one of two things will happen,
1) Either a buffer is there and the rate of fully vaccinated people begins to rise and first doses continue at the same pace.
2) No buffer (unlikey) or a % of a buffer is in place and the rate of 1st jabs will slow and be redirected to pay the second dose debt.
I’m honestly not sure what the U.K. plan is for a buffer or second doses, they could be stockpiled and double out put of first and second jabs at the current same pace, might have % of a buffer and first doses slow or are relying on supply and supply in given to the second dose debt.
Be interesting to see.