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GENEVA (AP) — An knowledgeable group convened by the World Well being Group says there could also be some profit in giving a second booster dose of coronavirus vaccine to essentially the most weak individuals amid the persevering with world unfold of omicron and its subvariants.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, the United Nations well being company mentioned there was “a rising physique of proof relating to the worth of a further booster dose” for teams together with well being staff, individuals aged over 60 and people with weak immune methods.
The WHO mentioned its knowledgeable group had assessed the restricted knowledge from seven research for second booster doses of messenger RNA vaccines, saying there wasn’t sufficient info proving their effectiveness in youthful, wholesome individuals.
“In these most in danger for extreme illness or loss of life … the extra advantage of a further booster dose of mRNA vaccine is likely to be warranted,” the WHO mentioned, acknowledging that there might be logistical or different challenges to providing individuals a second booster dose in some nations. Whereas many wealthy nations have vaccinated greater than 70% of their populations, fewer than 16% of individuals in poorer nations have been immunized.
Final yr, the WHO repeatedly criticized wealthy nations for providing booster doses and referred to as for a moratorium on the apply, saying boosters have been pointless for wholesome individuals. The company reversed its recommendation late final yr amid the unfold of the vastly infectious omicron variant, after dozens of nations started providing booster doses.
Some well being consultants have warned that nations embarking on further booster campaigns may deplete the world’s provide of COVID-19 vaccines earlier than essentially the most weak individuals in growing nations have been supplied a single shot.
The U.S. Meals and Drug Administration really helpful in March that Individuals 50 and over be eligible for a second COVID-19 booster shot whereas the European Medicines Company has solely cleared second booster doses for these 80 and over.
Amid the persevering with unfold of omicron and its subvariants, the WHO and others have continued to name for accelerated vaccination campaigns.
“What we’re seeing is that people who find themselves vaccinated have a a lot lowered threat of growing extreme illness and loss of life,” mentioned WHO’s COVID-19 lead Maria Van Kerkhove, warning in opposition to the false notion that omicron is delicate. “Now we have options for this as a result of we’ve got vaccines,“ she mentioned.
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Observe AP’s protection of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
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