The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have recommended a second booster of the Covid-19 vaccine for those over 60, as well as for those who for medical reasons risk of serious illness.
As early as April, the two agencies had recommended a second booster for people over 80 and added that the need for an extra dose could be considered for those over 60 and for high-risk groups of any age in case of new outbreak.
The two agencies explain in their statement that the fact that a new wave in europe and the fact that hospital and ICU admissions are also increasing makes it advisable to consider those over 60 and vulnerable people for the second booster.
This dose must be taken at least four months after the first, specify the organs.
The vaccines that are authorized in Europe, confirm these organizations, continue to be effective in reducing serious cases of covid-19 and the risk of hospitalization, despite the new variants that are circulating.
“Our vaccines work and offer good levels of protection,” said the European Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakidescited by the agencies in their statement.
“I urge member states to implement second boosters for all persons over 60 years of age, as well as all vulnerable persons, immediately, and I urge all eligible to come forward and be vaccinated,” he added.
vulnerable people
On this recommendation, Jonathan BallProfessor of Molecular Virology at the University of Nottingham (United Kingdom), highlighted to the SMCUK that “protection against infection – particularly that caused by emerging variants such as omicron – is known to be limited, but we also know that a booster increases protection against serious disease.”
Therefore, adds the virologist, “the reinforcement in people most likely to suffer from severe covid-19, for example the elderly and those with other known vulnerabilities such as diabetes, makes a lot of sense”.