LONDON (AP). Will I be protected by a single dose of the COVID-19 two-dose vaccine?Yes, but not as much as if both doses were taken. Experts recommend that you get fully vaccinated due to the risk of developing worrisome coronavirus variants, such as the one first discovered in India.The COVID-19 vaccines that are being distributed globally have been designed to kill the original virus version discovered in late 2019. They seem to be effective against the original virus, but there is a risk that they might not work as well against later versions.British researchers discovered that people who received both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccinations were protected against the delta variant. Protection was reduced by receiving only one dose.Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, recently delayed lifting any restrictions on the distribution of the delta variant within the United Kingdom. This was done to stop the spread of the disease.Officials in the health sector are also worried about the many countries that don't have sufficient supply to provide second doses within the timeframe recommended.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, chief of World Health Organization, stated that a single dose of vaccines won't suffice to prevent new strains from spreading and suggested that people maintain social distancing until the population is fully vaccinated.According to Dr. Soumya Swminathan, WHO chief scientist, the second dose of a 2-dose vaccine is crucial because it is what gives the immune system an extra boost so that the antibody response can be very strong.___In this series, the AP answers your questions about coronavirus. Send them to FactCheck@AP.org Learn more:What should I know concerning the delta variant?Is it possible to mix and match COVID-19 vaccinations?What are the side effects of COVID-19 vaccinations?
