The World Health Organization’s Vaccine Advisory Group said Tuesday that it does not recommend additional vaccinations, let alone annual COVID-19 booster shots, for people at low to moderate risk of severe illness at this time. It recommended that countries focus on strengthening high-risk populations, such as the elderly, pregnant and those with underlying medical conditions, every 6-12 months in the short to medium term.
The new advice contrasts with plans proposed by the US Food and Drug Administration. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is proposing to treat COVID-19 boosters like annual flu shots for the foreseeable future. I came up with the idea of providing it to everyone, including young and healthy people.
In a statement released at JAMA last May, the FDA’s top vaccine regulator, Peter Marks, along with FDA Commissioner Robert Calif and Chief Deputy Commissioner Janet Woodcock, took the lead in anticipating the winter wave of respiratory infections. , claimed to have a COVID booster campaign every fall. Like the flu, COVID-19 and RSV, we can prevent the healthcare system from being overwhelmed. And they specifically addressed the possibility of vaccinating low-risk people.
“The benefits of administering an additional COVID-19 booster vaccine to healthy individuals aged 18 to 50 years who have already received the primary vaccination and the first booster vaccine have a more pronounced impact on hospitalizations and deaths than in other populations. risk is high,” the FDA official wrote. “However, booster vaccination may be associated with reduced health care utilization (e.g., emergency department or urgent care center visits).”
At a press conference on Tuesday, WHO advisers called the benefits of boosting low- or moderate-risk people “actually very marginal” and based on countries, healthy children at low-risk and It suggested that providing the first-line COVID-19 vaccine series to teens could be scaled back. – Specific conditions and resources.
context and limitations
These updated recommendations “reflect that large portions of the population have been vaccinated, have previously had COVID-19, or both,” said immunization experts. said Hanna Nohynek, chairman of the WHO’s strategic advisory group called SAGE. But the advisers’ latest guidance “reemphasizes the importance of vaccinating people who are still at risk of serious illness, primarily the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions,” she said. added.
Specifically, WHO’s SAGE considered high-risk groups. Young adults with significant comorbidities such as diabetes or heart disease. People aged 6 months and older who are immunocompromised, such as HIV-infected people and transplant recipients. pregnant people; and frontline health care workers.
For these high-risk groups, SAGE recommended an additional booster after the final 6-12 months given the current epidemiological situation. Advisors noted that the advice is “limited-time” in the current situation and will not be provided annually or semi-annually indefinitely. Subject to change depending on subspecies and future reductions in the spread of COVID-19.
The UK and Canada are already offering spring COVID-19 boosters to high-risk groups, including the elderly and immunocompromised. So far, the FDA has not indicated it will do the same.
