Don't worry about getting a booster shot!

The new wave of new coronaviruses caused by the more transmissible and higher viral load of the Delta variant is exacerbating the global public health crisis.
Moreover, many studies have shown that the ability of existing vaccines to prevent the Delta variant has declined.
Therefore, Re-inoculation of booster shots for people who have been vaccinated against the new crown vaccine has become a potential demand for responding to the current new crown pandemic
.

Although the idea of ​​further reducing the number of new crown cases by strengthening the immune system of vaccinators is attractive, any decision should be based on evidence and consider the benefits and risks to individuals and society
.

On September 13, 2021, the top international medical journal "The Lancet" published a report by 18 experts from WHO, FDA, University of Washington, University of Oxford and other institutions.
This report is entitled: Considerations in boosting COVID-19 vaccine immune The responses report pointed out: For most people, there is no need to get a booster shot of the new crown vaccine at this stage
.

For most people, there is no need for a booster shot of the new crown vaccine at this stage
.

The WHO also called for the suspension of the intensive injection program, and the vaccine should be distributed to those who have not been vaccinated before, which will bring greater benefits
.

The WHO also called for the suspension of the intensive injection program, and the vaccine should be distributed to those who have not been vaccinated before, which will bring greater benefits
.

Affected by this news, the stock prices of mRNA vaccine companies Moderna and BioNTech plunged more than 6%
.

The report pointed out that the current COVID-19 vaccine can still effectively prevent severe COVID-19, of course, including the severe disease caused by the Delta variant, but these conclusions are mostly based on preliminary observational studies, and it is difficult to accurately explain them due to potential confounding and selective reports.

.

Therefore, a careful and open review of constantly changing data is required to ensure that relevant decisions are more derived from reliable scientific research

Even if it is finally proved that booster shots can reduce the risk of severe illness in the medium term, wouldn't it be possible to save more lives by distributing these vaccines to those who have not received the new crown vaccine before?

Booster shots may be suitable for people who have not produced enough protective antibodies after the initial vaccination of the new crown vaccine, such as people with weakened immune functions, and people who have received low-protection vaccines
.

However, it is not yet clear whether these immune-compromised people can benefit from booster shots (the same vaccine previously vaccinated or switch to other vaccines)

Due to weakened immunity to the initial vaccination, or because variant strains expressing neoantigens have evolved to the point where the immune response induced by the original vaccine no longer adequately protects the currently circulating variant strains, it may eventually need to be boosted in the general population Needle
.

Although the benefits of the new crown vaccine for the first time outweigh the risks, there may be risks if booster shots are introduced prematurely or too frequently, especially vaccines that may have immune-mediated side effects
.

For example, mRNA-related myocarditis, Guillain-Barré syndrome related to adenovirus vaccines, and so on

If there is no reliable data and analysis to prove that the new crown vaccine booster plan is carried out in a hurry, and it leads to serious adverse reactions, it may affect the people's acceptance of the vaccine and may affect other vaccines
.

Therefore, only when there is clear evidence that it is appropriate, an extensive strengthening plan should be carried out

The report also pointed out that the current COVID-19 vaccine is much more effective in protecting severe COVID-19 than infection, and the vaccine has substantial protection against severe illness caused by all major variants
.

Although most vaccines are less effective in protecting symptomatic diseases caused by Delta mutant strains than against Alpha mutant strains, the effectiveness of vaccines against symptomatic and severe illnesses caused by Delta mutant strains is still high enough

As the protective efficacy of the new crown vaccine for severely ill patients is still very high, the report pointed out that the current evidence does not support the need for extensive intensified injection programs in the general population
.

Even if the humoral immunity seems to be weakened, a decrease in neutralizing antibody titer does not necessarily indicate a decrease in vaccine protective efficacy over time, and a decrease in vaccine efficacy against mild diseases does not necessarily indicate a decrease in efficacy against severe diseases

Finally, the report concluded that the currently available new crown vaccine is safe, effective and can save lives
.

If a limited number of new crown vaccines are provided to people who have a clear risk of severe illness and have not yet received any new crown vaccines, more lives can be saved

If the new coronavirus vaccine is deployed where it can work best, it can accelerate the end of the pandemic by inhibiting the further evolution of the new coronavirus
.
In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for a moratorium on the new crown vaccine booster until people around the world have completed enough initial vaccinations
.

Original source:

Original source:

Philip R Krause, et al.
Considerations in boosting COVID-19 vaccine immune responses .
The Lancet, 2021.

Considerations in boosting COVID-19 vaccine immune responses in this message