Geneva 19th August : Nations should think about offering a second Covid-19 vaccination booster to seniors pregnant women, health workers, those with less immune system, and those who are who are at a higher risk of severe illness according to an expert group of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO). The majority of Covid-19 vaccines comprise of an initial course of two doses with an initial booster given between four and six months following completion to boost the immune system.
While various countries had already rolled out the second dose of boosters to fight Covid but the WHO had not yet suggested it.
After a meeting last week the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization recommended the fourth dose, or the second booster for Covid however, only for people who are vulnerable.
“There is increasing evidence for the advantages of an additional booster dose of vaccines in terms of improving the effectiveness of vaccines that are losing effectiveness (VE),” the SAGE stated in an announcement.
The protection provided by the current vaccines diminishes dramatically within a couple of months especially in the context of every variant of concern.
The guidelines focus on the requirement for a second booster since Omicron remains the most popular variant.It doesn’t consider future variants or variant-containing vaccines that are in the final stages of development.
Factors like waning vaccinationimmune system – and infection-induced immunity the relaxation of health measures for the general public, a decrease in health measures, changes in the timing in transmission and the possible appearance of new strains of Covid, could cause Covid rises in the months ahead and could trigger the need for booster doses.
“Evolving evidence from studies suggests that further protection of the most vulnerable populations, at the very least for a period of several months, could be achieved through the administration of an additional dose of booster but the time to follow-up on the studies is not as long,” the SAGE noted.
A second booster must be given within four to six months of the last dose or as quickly as it is possible following that.
WHO further suggests that countries also think about offering Covid-19 vaccines along with the vaccine for seasonal influenza when it is feasible.
rvt/
.
