Europe asks the States to give the fourth dose against covid-19 to people over 60

Published
07/11/2022 13:47

Updated
07/11/2022 13:47

The main reference center for epidemiological matters in the European Union, the ECDCwants them to Member States give the fourth dose of the covid-19 vaccine to everyone over 60. This proposal has caught many Public Health specialists on the wrong foot, who consider that theirs is to wait for a specific vaccine for the omicron variant and its lineages to put the fourth dose. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Instead, it asks that the countries of the union use the current Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for this fourth dose although they have originated based on the original Wuhan variant.

“People over 60 years of age and the vulnerable population continue to be at higher risk of severe disease from covid. Mathematical models suggest clear benefits if inoculated a second booster dose to people over 60 years of age. Therefore, early implementation of a fourth dose should be considered not only for the population aged 80 years and older, but also for adults between 60 and 79 years old and for vulnerable people regardless of their age“, explains the agency in a statement.

The ECDC calls for “currently available vaccines” to be used and suggests that they could be given at least four months after the third dose. “This would be particularly relevant in countries where the BA.4/5 wave is starting or has not yet reached its peak.

Fourth dose in toilets

Instead, advise against administering a fourth dose of current Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in toilets, as it would have only “limited benefits”. They believe they would only need it if “they belong to a priority group based on age or medical vulnerability.” Residents in long-term care facilities will need to receive all doses reinforcement recommended by the ECDC.

For the moment, this body recognizes that “there is no clear epidemiological evidence to support the administration of a second booster dose in immunocompetent persons under 60 years of ageThe ECDC and EMA “will continue to closely monitor vaccine effectiveness and epidemiological data and update advice accordingly.”