The first doses have been extremely effective in protecting people against severe COVID-19, raising questions about the need for repeated boosters.
COVID case rates are rising in Europe and Asia. Here's what that means for the United States.Everyone 50 and older could soon be eligible for an additional COVID-19 vaccine at least four months after their booster shot.
The oldest Americans, who are at high risk of being hospitalized and dying from COVID-19, should be authorized for another shot, Americans with immunocompromising conditions, such as organ transplant recipients and active cancer patients, are authorized to get a fourth dose in the USA. The CDC may stop short of strongly recommending a booster for those over 50, as it did with the original doses and the initial booster, The BA.2 variant, which dominates the world, is causing a jump in cases in many countries. Although cases have turned slightly upward in a number of states after a precipitous decline in recent weeks, it's not clear whether BA.2 will lead to a dramatic spike in the USA.
Dr. Megan Ranney, an emergency room physician at Rhode Island Hospital and public health expert at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University, said she sees the approval as an"insurance policy," so boosters will be available when needed. But the Israeli data showed a reduction in severe disease only among those at highest risk – raising questions about whether the general population would benefit from a fourth shot, Krause said.