COVID-19 Vaccine Booster: To Boost or Not to Boost

Abstract

Developing safe and effective vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at a breakneck speed has been an exceptional human achievement. It remains our best hope of containing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, newer, more aggressive SARS-CoV-2 viral strains, as well as the possibility of fading immunity following vaccination, have prompted health officials to investigate the necessity for additional immunization. This has put further pressure on disregarded human life in lower-income countries that already have minimal access to COVID-19 vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended a third COVID-19 vaccine dose in immunocompromised individuals in a recent announcement. Governments and health care officials need to develop usage guidelines for COVID-19 vaccine booster doses while considering the dangers of potential waning immunity and new viral strains and prioritizing vulnerable populations everywhere, including those living in lower-income countries.

COVID-19 vaccine waning and effectiveness and side-effects of boosters: a prospective community study from the ZOE COVID Study

“… 1 , 2 , 3 However, the effectiveness against infection, as happens also for other vaccines, wanes within months of the second dose. 4 , 5 Studies in Qatar showed substantial waning 6 , 7 in effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infection from month 4 after the second dose for BNT162b2 (tozinameran; Pfizer-BioNtech), 6 , 7 although effectiveness against severe disease, hospitalisation, and death remained high 6 months after vaccination for both BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 (elasomeran; Moderna). 6 , 7 , 8 …”

Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Hesitancy: a Retrospective Cohort Study, Fukushima Vaccination Community Survey

“…It was reported that six months after the administration of the second dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine, the humoral response was substantially reduced [8]. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended a third COVID-19 vaccine dose in immunocompromised individuals [9]. As described above, reducing the number of unvaccinated individuals and minimizing vaccine hesitancy to facilitate more people receiving a third dose, is an extremely important measure in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

Rheumatologists’ knowledge and perception of COVID-19 and related vaccines: the vaXurvey2 online survey

“…A booster dose was received by 18.5% of the subjects. Governments and health care officials should optimize the usage guidelines for COVID-19 vaccine booster doses in view of the potential waning immunity and emerging viral strains and should prioritize populations at risk in lower-income countries [ 32 ]. In a nationwide Italian study on the COVID-19 vaccine, primary vaccination efficacy was 76–92% within 6 months that decreased to 34–80% thereafter.…”