Covid vaccination: No need for additional doses for healthy adults, says WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that healthy adults do not need an additional dose of Covid vaccines beyond the primary vaccination and the first booster because the health benefits are minimal. For this group of people under the age of 60, classified as at medium risk, to which children and adolescents with comorbidities aged 6 months to 17 years are also added, additional injections pose no risk, but “return to health is low.” This was stated by WHO experts on vaccines.

The WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) has issued updated recommendations after meeting this week in Geneva. The WHO said the new SAGE recommendations reflect the impact of Omicron and the high levels of immunity currently achieved in the world’s population due to infections and vaccinations.

SAGE has proposed three new priority categories for Covid vaccination based on the risk of developing severe disease or death: high, medium and low.

On the other hand, the elderly, other adults with comorbidities, all immunocompromised people, pregnant women, and frontline healthcare workers are recommended to be revaccinated with a booster dose after the initial vaccination schedule and the first booster. SAGE recommends an interval of 6 to 12 months between revaccinations, depending on the incidence.

13.3 billion doses of the Covid vaccine have been administered worldwide.

On the other hand, the evidence is “not consistent enough” about the impact of Covid vaccines on long-term Covid, where the initial illness often develops into very disabling symptoms such as extreme fatigue or an inability to concentrate.

Nearly 13.3 billion doses of the Covid vaccine have been administered worldwide. The WHO is looking for new Covid vaccines that cover a wide range of options, have a longer duration of effect, and show better efficacy against infection and transmission. The organization is also researching new methods of administering nasal, oral or skin serums.

Discussing the two nasal vaccines, including one used in China, SAGE executive secretary Joachim Hombach emphasized: “We know they are immunogenic… but we really need data that really looks at the impact on transmission because that could really make a big difference.” . »