#16,244
Since mid-summer reports of declining protection (over time) from COVID Vaccines has prompted a number of countries - starting with Israel - to begin offering a 3rd or `booster shot' for some categories of recipients (see Moderna To Investors: 3rd COVID Booster Shot Will Be Needed by Winter).
Here in the United States, only those who were originally vaccinated more than 6 months ago with the Pfizer mRNA vaccine are currently eligible, but the FDA will hold a meeting later this week to discuss expansion to include Moderna and J&J vaccine recipients.Protection appears to remain robust against severe illness, hospitalization, and death but mild-to-moderate `breakthrough' infections, particularly with the Delta variant, appear common.
There is a serious ethical concern, however, as much of the world's population has yet to be offered their first COVID vaccine, while richer countries are deploying - or considering deploying - booster shots.
This led to the World Health Organization's Director Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus last August to call for a moratorium on booster shots until at least September, to allow at least 10% of the population in all countries to be vaccinated.
And recent reports, such as Denmark: SSI Reports Early Signs That COVID Booster Shots Are Lowering Nursing Home Infections, suggest that booster shots are having a real impact.
The CDC has narrowly defined Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People as making up `. . . about 3% of the adult population and are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 because they are more at risk of serious, prolonged illness', but I suspect many would cast a much wider net.
According to a press conference yesterday, the WHO SAGE group will review global data on booster shots in mid-November, and make further recommendations.
This report from the UN News.
WHO advisory group recommends COVID-19 booster shot for immunocompromised people
11 October 2021
People with weaker immune systems should receive an additional shot of approved COVID-19 vaccines, an advisory group to the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.
The recommendation follows a four-day meeting of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization. A final report will be issued in December.
Risk of severe disease
SAGE said moderately and severely immunocompromised persons should be offered an additional dose of all WHO-approved vaccines “since these individuals are less likely to respond adequately to vaccination following a standard primary vaccine series and are at high risk of severe COVID-19 disease.”
People aged 60 and older who received the Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines should get a third dose too, the experts added, though use of other vaccines may also be considered depending on supply and access.
“When implementing this recommendation, countries should initially aim at maximizing 2-dose coverage in that population, and thereafter administer the third dose, starting in the oldest age groups”, they said.
SAGE has also reviewed a vaccine developed by Indian company Bharat Biotech and will issue a policy recommendation after WHO greenlights it for emergency use.
Global vaccine strategy
WHO last week announced a plan to end the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring all people, everywhere, have access to vaccines.
The Global COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy calls for inoculating 40 per cent of people in all countries by the end of the year, and 70 per cent by the middle of 2022.
The strategy takes a three-step approach to vaccination. Priority is given to older people, health workers and high-risk groups of all ages, followed by adults and then adolescents.
