"Based on current evidence, it is not urgent to administer booster doses of Covid-19 vaccines to already fully vaccinated people in the general population."
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) write this in a joint note
following a technical report published yesterday by the ECDC in which the need for a booster dose for "people with severely weakened immune systems".
"Evidence on vaccine efficacy and duration of protection shows that all vaccines authorized in the EU are currently highly protective against hospitalization, serious illness and death related to Covid-19", the two European agencies highlight. stressing however that "around one in three adults over 18 in the EU is still not fully vaccinated" and "in this situation, the priority now should be to vaccinate all eligible individuals who have not yet completed their course of vaccination recommended ".
Experts explain that
"it is important to distinguish between booster doses for people with normal immune systems and those with weakened immune systems
." In immunosuppressed individuals, "some studies report that an additional dose of the vaccine can improve the immune response" and this option should therefore "be considered now". "The possibility of providing an additional dose, as a precautionary measure, to frail elderly people, particularly those living indoors such as residents of long-term care facilities, could also be considered."
The EMA, the note continues, "is currently evaluating the data on additional doses" and will evaluate the "relevant data".
In the meantime, "Member States may consider preparatory plans for the administration of boosters and additional doses".
In the meantime,
Moderna expects to present data relating to the third dose of the anti Covid-19 vaccine to
the United States drug regulator (FDA), EMA and those of other countries in the world in the coming days.