Experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend that people at higher risk of contracting the Covid-19 virus be offered a second booster dose to boost their immunity.
The WHO Committee of Experts on Immunization Policy (SAGE) has stated that after an initial vaccination, which usually consists of two doses, and an already recommended first booster dose, an additional injection should be offered to specific groups of people. .
“We do this based on observations of weakened immunity, especially in the context of Omicron,” Joachim Hornbach, WHO’s senior health adviser, told reporters at a virtual news briefing.
“Not a general recommendation”
The WHO has already recommended that all adults receive a booster shot four to six months after an initial series of shots, which also consists of two shots.
But Alejandro Cravioto stressed that the recommendation to perform a second booster after an additional four to six months only affected the “most exposed populations.”
“It is not a blanket recommendation for vaccination of all adults after the first booster,” he said.
New vaccines will be evaluated soon
SAGE felt that second boosters should be offered to older adults, all immunocompromised people, pregnant women, as well as people with conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart, lung, and kidney disease.
Health workers of all ages should also get the extra dose, said Alejandro Cravioto, who stressed the need to “protect our health systems.” For now, these recall recommendations relate to available vaccines developed to combat the initial strain of Covid-19.
The WHO has said it will evaluate new vaccines developed by companies such as Moderna and Pfizer, which are targeting new variants from Omicron.
Source: BFM TV
