The gap between the two doses of the Oxford vaccine is to be extended to up to 10 weeks.

This means more people will be vaccinated with one dose at an earlier stage than originally planned.Six new Covid cases have been detected in the last 24 hours, taking the number of active cases to 27.A total of 25 of the 27 cases are linked to the cluster that emerged last week and the other two are travel related and picked up by testing during self-isolation.Health Minister David Ashford told this afternoon’s Covid briefing that the latest evidence from the roll out of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine in the UK has confirmed the gap between the two doses may be extended beyond the original specification of 28 days.

It found that the vaccine has an average 76% effectiveness against symptomatic coronavirus infection for three months after the first dose.

And it has also been shown that extending the time period for the second dose does not affect the efficacy of the first - which was an initial concern not that long ago.

Mr Ashford said: ’After extensive review of the evidence by senior

clinicians in the Department of Health and Social Care, the strategy to extend the gap between the two doses of the Oxford vaccine is now being adopted here in the Isle of Man.

’The decision means more people will be vaccinated with one dose at an earlier stage than originally planned. Our team is now working hard to re-draw our vaccination schedule.’The dose interval for the Pfizer vaccine remains 21 days but this is subject to ongoing review in line with emerging evidence.The new dose intervals for Oxford/AstraZeneca will come into effect for all who have registered with 111 following their invitation letter and those who will be invited in the future.

The change won’t affect people who already have an appointment from 111 for their second dose of the Oxford vaccine, which will go ahead as planned.