Much has been speculated that a second booster dose against COVID-19 would be necessary, which would mean for many the fourth injection against the coronavirus, however, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has ruled in this regard, clearing up any doubts and stating that he believes that it is too early to consider this option.
Although the body together with the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) do not believe that another extra vaccine is necessary to protect against SARS-CoV-2, it has supported its use for people over 80 years of age, who are a group very vulnerable to developing COVID-19 in a serious way with even fatal consequences.
This information refers to messenger RNA type vaccines, such as those from Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna, and has been arrived at taking into account that there is not enough evidence to indicate that people between 60 and 79 years of age who are vaccinated are losing protection provided by the vaccine, which would be the reason why they could recommend reinforcing it with a fourth dose.
Revaccination campaigns could start in the fall
Therefore, according to this EMA publication, Europe is not going to follow the example of the United States, where the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a week ago the administration of this second booster vaccine against COVID-19 for people older than 50 years.
Israeli data indicates that a fourth dose could restore antibody levels when given four months after the previous one
Even so, most of the data on the effects of the second booster dose come from Israel, where it has been given since last January and where studies have been carried out on the matter. Data has indicated that this fourth dose for many could restore a person’s antibody levels without risk to health, as long as it is administered at least four months after the first.
However, the authorities will remain alert to the new scientific data that is available in order to make the best decisions. They have already warned that if today’s epidemiological situation changes for the worse, a fourth extra dose could be necessary for people over 60 years of age.
The EMA and the ECDC have indicated that as the revaccination campaigns could start in the autumn, it is then that the national authorities will consider the best time to administer doses, possibly taking advantage of the updated vaccines that are being developed and that do not yet have authorization. necessary to be used.
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