Covid-19: Not everyone needs another jab — EU Agency

People who have already had two anti-Covid vaccinations do not need further booster shots, the European centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), an EU agency in Sweden said in a statement on  Wednesday.

However, people who have immune-system issues, or who had trouble with the first two jabs may need them, the agency noted.

“Providing all eligible individuals with the recommended dose regimen should remain the current priority for Covid-19 vaccination programmes in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA),” the statement said.

When assessing the need for possible booster doses of Covid-19 vaccine from the public health perspective, it is important to keep in mind the main objective of the vaccination strategy (i.e. preventing severe cases of Covid-19), the agency pointed out.

“Vaccine effectiveness against severe disease should preferably be chosen as the primary outcome of interest for assessing whether there is a clear need for a booster dose in specific groups.

The available evidence at this time regarding ‘real world’ vaccine effectiveness and the duration of protection shows that all vaccines authorised in the EU/EEA are currently highly protective against COVID-19-related hospitalisation, severe disease and death, suggesting there is no urgent need for the administration of booster doses of vaccines to fully vaccinated individuals in the general population,” the statement said.

It is important to distinguish between ‘booster’ doses for people who responded adequately to primary vaccination and additional doses for those with weakened immune systems who did not respond adequately, the statement said.

“Booster doses are given to vaccinated people (i.e. those who have completed a primary series of Covid-19 vaccination) to restore protection after it would have waned. On the other hand, additional doses as part of a primary vaccination series may be given to people with severely weakened immune systems, as they may not achieve an adequate level of protection from the standard primary vaccination,” according to the statement.

Consideration could also be given to providing an additional dose as a precautionary measure to older frail individuals, in particular those living in closed settings (e.g. residents of long-term care facilities), the statement added.

In Cyprus, the cabinet on Thursday decided to start administering a third Covid vaccine dose to vulnerable groups and health professionals.

Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas said third doses will be given to people over 65, those living in care homes, the immunosuppressed of all ages, and health professionals, provided it has been at least six months since their second jabs.

Israel has expanded its COVID booster vaccination campaign to all Israelis over age 12, becoming the first country in the world to offer the third shot widely.

Every Israeli over age 12 who received their second dose of the vaccine at least five months ago is now eligible for a third booster shot. Israel began giving the booster shots to anyone over 60 earlier this month and has now expanded the campaign.