The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has concluded that a booster shot of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna coronavirus vaccines “may be given to people with severely weakened immune systems, at least 28 days after their second dose,” according to a statement reported the CNN.
The Regulator advises
The regulator recommends a third shot after studies showed an extra dose of the two vaccines “increased the ability to produce antibodies against the virus that causes COVID-19 in organ transplant patients with weakened immune systems.”
The EMA statement added that there was “no direct evidence” that being able to produce antibodies protected against coronavirus, but “it is expected that the extra dose would increase protection at least in some patients.”
EMA declares
The agency said it would continue to watch for data on the effectiveness of protection.
It also distinguished giving the extra dose to people with compromised immune systems and those without. For people with normal immune systems, the EMA concluded that booster doses of BioNTech/Pfizer “may be considered at least 6 months after the second dose for people aged 18 years and older.”
According to data it evaluated, an extra dose of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine caused a rise in antibody levels when the dose is given “approximately 6 months after the second dose in people from 18 to 55 years old.”
Additional doses for selective Americans
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have also already recommended additional doses for some Americans, including people who are 65 years old or older, those with compromised immune systems, and people who live or work in a setting that puts them at a high risk of exposure to Covid-19, such as health care workers, teachers or people living in shelters.
Kluge outlines
Several studies published in September supported the argument that individuals may require booster doses of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine over time, with data suggesting extra doses would be safe. “Quite a proportion of the people who are infected now or end up in hospital where the elderly people who got two jabs,” Kluge said.
When pressed on global vaccine inequity, Kluge called for “political leadership and coordination” to manage the excess supply of vaccine doses.
WHO announces
Previously, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on wealthy nations to refrain from boosting their Covid-19 vaccinations until doses are available to more of the world.
“I’m calling for an extension of the moratorium, until at least the end of the year, to enable every country to vaccinate at least 40% of its population,” he said.
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Source: CNN Health
