A U.K. trial has been launched to see if giving people different COVID vaccines for their first and second doses works as well as the current approach of using the same type of vaccine twice. The idea is to provide more flexibility with vaccine rollout and help deal with any potential disruption to supplies. Scientists say that mixing the vaccines may also give even better protection.

Currently, official guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) says anyone already given the Pfizer-BioNTech or Oxford-AstraZeneca shot as part of the U.K.’s approved immunization program should get the same vaccine for both doses.

Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi said the government’s taskforce had given about £7m to fund the study, but that findings would not be available until the summer and therefore “at the moment we’re not changing anything at all.” The study will be recruiting people aged 50 or older, who have not yet received a COVID vaccine. Some will receive the Oxford vaccine followed by the Pfizer vaccine or vice versa, four or 12 weeks apart.

Another huge step to flattening the curve! We need these brilliant scientists to continue doing what they do best, experiment and improve on what we currently think is best practice!

Stay the course, stay well, mask up, get vaccinated, and stay tuned!