Who Needs Another Booster? Immunologists Weigh-In Pros and Cons of 4th COVID-19 Vaccine

Researchers now know that the efficacy of a COVID-19 booster shot fades rapidly. After approximately three months, antibody levels drop, and people become susceptible to the virus.

An NPR report said many Americans were given a booster jab more than three months ago. Therefore, with the latest COVID-19 Omicron variant circulating, many now wonder if it means it's time for the fourth jab.

According to the news agency's global health correspondent Michaeleen Doucleff, right now, the data proposes for the general population, there's no need for people for a fourth dose.

The correspondent explained that the reason for this is that a week ago, research came out of Israel examining specifically what a fourth jab does and how much helps it provides.

4th Booster Shot

The said study is the initial research, and it is quite small. It comprises roughly 700 people. However, it was clear that a fourth booster shot is either Moderna or Pfizer does not add much protection against COVID-19 infection after the third dose.

It increased protection in particular by just approximately 10 to 30 percent, and such protection is likely to decrease over time.

Talking to the University of Chicago immunologist Jenna Guthmiller, Doucleff said the former explained this vaccine is certainly not developed to prevent Omicron and the variant's infections.

Specifically, the expert said it is designed to prevent the original variants of COVID-19 that spread two years ago and are very different compared to Omicron.

Who Should Get the Jab?

Doucleff also explained that this means that no matter how many shots one receives, be it four, five, or six, it is just not going to stop the virus.

First of all, she elaborated, three doses for healthy individuals below 65 years of age or so are still doing a good job of avoiding or stopping severe infection and, eventually, death.

However, in a recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it was found that such protection may drop just slightly a bit over time. A decline after four months from roughly 80 to 80 percent is being talked about here.

Doucleff also said, "right there is really the key." Therefore, for those at high risk of severe illness, to begin with, losing even a tiny portion of protection could be problematic.

There are individuals whose ages range from 65 and above experiencing health problems such as obesity or heart disease, putting them at higher risk or those who have compromised immune systems.

Decline in Immunity

According to an immunologist Akiko Iwasaki from Yale University, these individuals are likely to benefit from an added vaccine. The expert added their immune response is not as vigorous as a healthy young individual, and then it is perhaps, the target group that would need such a fourth booster.

However, she said when that booster would be required is not known at present, and it depends on just how fast this immunity is declining in this group.

Related information about the efficacy of COVID-19 booster is shown on WYZ-TV Detroit's YouTube video below:

Check out more news and information on COVID-19 on Science Times.