WHO publishes new recommendations for vaccination against Covid-19. The World Health Organization believes that healthy adults do not require an additional dose, beyond primary vaccination and a first booster. For this group of people under 60 years of age called medium risk – plus children and adolescents with comorbidities from 6 months to 17 years – there is no risk of receiving additional injections but "the returns in terms of health are low", said WHO vaccine experts.

The new recommendations from the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) reflect the impact of Omicron and the high level of immunity now achieved in the global population because of infections and through vaccination, WHO said. SAGE has proposed three new priority categories for Covid vaccination based on the risk of developing severe disease or death: high, medium and low.

People at risk advised to take a booster dose

In contrast, older people, other adults with comorbidities, all immunocompromised people, pregnant women and frontline health workers are invited to more vaccinations with a booster dose after the initial vaccination regimen and a first booster. SAGE recommends an interval of 6 to 12 months between boosters depending on morbidities.

The evidence is "inconsistent" regarding the impact of Covid vaccines on long-term Covid, which sees the initial illness develop into often very disabling symptoms such as extreme fatigue or inability to concentrate.

Research into new vaccines

Nearly 13.3 billion doses have been administered worldwide. WHO is looking for new Covid-19 vaccines that cover a wide range of variants, have a more lasting effect and show better performance against infection and transmission. The organization is also examining new methods of administering nasal, oral or dermal serums.

Referring to two nasal vaccines, including one used in China, SAGE Executive Secretary Joachim Hombach stressed: "We know they are immunogenic ... But what we really need is data that actually studies the impact on transmission – because that could indeed make a big difference. »

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