Government Panel Recommends Older Adults Get Another COVID-19 Shot, Despite Booster
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a threat, an influential government advisory panel in the United States has recommended that older adults receive another COVID-19 shot, even if they have already received a booster. The panel voted 11-1 in favor of this recommendation, stating that Americans aged 65 and older should get another dose of the updated vaccine if at least four months have passed since their last shot. While some experts debate the necessity of another booster and express concerns about vaccine fatigue among the public, the panel believes that this additional dose is crucial for protecting older individuals from the virus.
The committee’s decision comes after a lengthy discussion regarding whether to use the term “may” or “should” when referring to older people receiving the shots. Ultimately, the panel chose to use “should” in order to more clearly encourage doctors and pharmacists to offer the shots. Dr. Jamie Loehr, a committee member and family doctor in Ithaca, New York, explains, “I am trying to make it easier for providers to say, ‘Yes, we recommend this.'”
While some doctors argue that most older adults are adequately protected by the fall shot, which built on immunity derived from earlier vaccinations and exposure to the virus itself, the committee emphasizes that vaccine-induced defenses tend to fade over time, particularly in seniors. Preliminary studies have shown no substantial waning in vaccine effectiveness over six months, but it is important to take into account that COVID-19 remains a danger, especially for older individuals. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are still over 20,000 hospitalizations and more than 2,000 deaths each week due to the coronavirus. People aged 65 and older have the highest hospitalization and death rates.
In September, the government recommended a new COVID-19 shot recipe that targeted a version of the coronavirus called XBB.1.5. This single-target vaccine replaced combination shots that had been targeting both the original coronavirus strain and an earlier omicron version. The CDC recommended the new shots for everyone aged 6 months and older, allowing those with weak immune systems to receive a second dose as early as two months after the first. However, the vaccination rate for these new shots remains low, with only 13% of U.S. children and approximately 22% of U.S. adults having received them. The rate is slightly higher for adults aged 65 and older, at nearly 42%. Dr. David Canaday, an infectious diseases expert at Case Western Reserve University, notes that the uptake of each successive vaccine has decreased, suggesting that people are growing tired of receiving multiple shots.
Despite the declining vaccination rates, there is a subset of Americans who are at higher risk of severe illness and death and are concerned about the vaccine’s effectiveness. Dr. William Schaffner, a vaccines expert at Vanderbilt University, explains that this group has been asking whether another dose is permissible. The CDC survey data supports their concerns, indicating that their biggest worry about the vaccine is its efficacy. However, agency officials assure that among those who have received the latest version of the COVID-19 vaccine, there is a 50% reduction in the likelihood of falling ill after coming into contact with the virus compared to those who did not receive the fall shot.
As the debate surrounding COVID-19 booster shots continues, it is crucial to prioritize the health and safety of older adults. With COVID-19 still posing a significant threat and hospitalization and death rates remaining high among this age group, the government advisory panel’s recommendation for another COVID-19 shot aims to provide additional protection and peace of mind for older individuals and their families.
