(Photo: Giovanna Albuquerque / Agência Saúde DF)
as booster doses It continues to provide high levels of protection for the elderly against severe illness from infection with the Coronavirus Omicron Health officials said there was no need for people to take a fourth shot. United kingdom This Friday (7).
About three months after a third dose was given, protection against hospitalization among people aged over 65 remained at around 90%, according to the British Health Safety Agency.
“The data is very encouraging and underscores the value of the booster dose,” Wei Shen Lim, head of the COVID-19 immunization department at the government’s Joint Committee on Vaccination, said in a statement.
In comparison, with just two doses of the vaccine, protection against serious illness for those over 65 years old fell to about 70% after three months and to 50% after six months, according to the agency.
“Current data show that a booster dose continues to provide high levels of protection against serious disease, even for the most vulnerable age groups,” Lim said.
“For this reason, the committee concluded that there was no immediate need to introduce a second booster dose, but that this would continue the review.”
Protection against mild infections was shorter-lived than against severe disease and dropped to about 30% after about three months, the agency said.
Israel is now giving the fourth dose to people over 60 and healthcare professionals, as well as immunocompromised patients, after concluding that they raise antibodies five times a week.
Emily Brontë is a journalist and feature writer specialising in culture, entertainment, literature, and current affairs. She is dedicated to producing clear, accurate reporting that helps readers stay informed about developments in the UK and around the world.
