Is Another COVID-19 Booster Really Needed Now?

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As the emergency phase of the COVID-19 pandemic is nearing its end, the attention is now shifting toward the vaccination campaign. Though nothing is fixed related to the COVID-19 vaccine, health officials are considering the authorization of another booster shot this spring.

The timing and eligibility for this booster dose remain unclear. But for older residents or those with underlying health conditions another booster could be an additional protection against COVID-19 infection.

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Many high-risk group people are asking whether they need another dose. Authorities in Britain authorities have already rolled out a spring booster shot only for older people but also for those who are immunosuppressed and at least 5 years old.

‘Campaigns promoting COVID-19 vaccination booster doses will make sure that vulnerable people are protected in advance.’

Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization is suggesting a similar approach to make a spring booster available for those 65 or older as well as immunosuppressed adults and nursing home residents.

Even though uptake of the updated booster shot in Canada has also been relatively low, additional doses would be beneficial. Emerging data also show that those who get the bivalent booster shot are better protected against hospitalization and death, especially among older individuals.

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Among people aged 65 to 79 years, the updated booster had one-tenth the risk of being hospitalized compared with those who are unvaccinated, and roughly half the risk of being hospitalized compared with those who have not received the bivalent booster.

Even among younger adults, the updated booster had one-sixth the chance of being hospitalized than unvaccinated people, and roughly half the chance of being hospitalized compared with vaccinated people who had not gotten the updated booster.

Those who aged 65 to 79 got the updated booster was about one-tenth as likely to die from COVID-19 compared with unvaccinated people. They were roughly half as likely to die compared with vaccinated people who had not received the updated booster.

Even with the termination of COVID-19 emergency declarations, vaccinating those most at risk remains a key focus moving forward - particularly as the disease continues to kill thousands of people a week worldwide.

Still, there appears to be booster fatigue, even in highly vaccinated areas. A recent analysis showed only 40% of California-eligible residents get an updated booster as of March 31.

By comparison, about 73% of Californians completed their primary vaccination series, and 61% of vaccinated residents have gotten at least one booster shot. Some residents, especially those boosted recently, may have been unclear that the latest shot was formulated differently, or felt they didn't need it. Although booster rates are not hopeful, it is significant that a large majority of several highly populated areas did complete the primary vaccination series.



Source: Medindia