A fourth Covid vaccination will not be immediately necessary for older adults either. This was stated by the British Scientific Vaccination Committee on Friday evening. Boosters would continue to offer the general population a high level of protection against serious illnesses thanks to the Omikron variant.
Evidence is mounting that the Omikron strain is much milder than other Covid-19 variants. Hospitals in Great Britain are also less busy than during the delta wave. The UK government’s scientific advisors now say boosters protect high-risk groups too.
According to the latest figures from the British health authorities, a booster vaccination after about three months still protects about 90 percent from being admitted to hospital. Protection against a mild symptomatic infection, on the other hand, drops to around 30 percent after three months. After just two doses of the vaccine, protection against serious illness drops to around 70 percent after three months and by half after six months.
No second booster recommended in nursing homes
“The current data shows that booster vaccination continues to offer high protection against serious illnesses, even for the most vulnerable age groups,” said Wei Shen Lim, chairman of the Vaccination Board for Covid-19 Immunization. “For this reason, the committee has come to the conclusion that there is no immediate need to introduce a second booster dose, although it is still under consideration.”
The data are very encouraging and also highlight the value of booster vaccination. An exception, however, are obviously highly endangered patients with a weakened immune system. You are advised to have four vaccinations instead of three in order to enjoy the highest possible protection.
In the opinion of the Scientific Advisory Panel, however, there is no immediate need to introduce a second booster dose in nursing homes and for people over 80 years of age. The development of the data is constantly checked, it is said, in order to recommend a booster vaccination in good time, should this become necessary. Israel became the first country in the world to introduce such a program in December. (kes)