WHO revises Covid-19 vaccine recommendations for era "omicron"

The World Health Organization has changed its recommendations for Covid-19 vaccinations in line with the new phase of the pandemic, suggesting that healthy children and adolescents do not need to be vaccinated, but older high-risk groups should receive a booster 6-12 months after the last vaccination.

The UN agency said the aim is to focus efforts on vaccinating those most at risk of severe illness and death from Covid-19, given the high levels of population immunity worldwide due to widespread infection and vaccination.

The health agency has identified high-risk groups as the elderly, as well as young people with other significant risk factors. For this group, the agency recommends a booster shot of the vaccine 6 or 12 months after the last dose, based on factors such as age and immunocompromising conditions.

Meanwhile, the agency said healthy children and adolescents are a “low priority” for Covid-19 vaccination and urged countries to consider factors such as disease burden before recommending vaccination for this group. The report says Covid-19 vaccines and boosters are safe for all ages, but recommendations take into account other factors such as cost-effectiveness.

In September last year, the WHO said the end of the pandemic was “not far off”. At a briefing on Tuesday, the agency said its latest recommendations reflect the current disease pattern and levels of global immunity, but should not be taken as long-term guidance on the need for annual boosters.

Recommendations are given due to the fact that countries take different approaches. Some high-income countries, such as the UK and Canada, are already offering those at higher risk Covid-19 boosters this spring, six months after the last dose.

“The revised roadmap once again highlights the importance of vaccinating those who are still at risk of severe illness,” said Hanna Nohinek, chair of the WHO Immunization Strategic Expert Group, which prepared the recommendations.

The committee also called for urgent efforts to catch up on missed routine immunizations during the pandemic and warned of a rise in vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles.

With respect to Covid, the committee said that vaccines, beyond the initial two shots and a booster, are no longer routinely recommended for those in the “medium risk” group. because they are of little use..

[Reuters].

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