The decision to stay firm on a five-month interval for boosters is based on sound reasoning | OPINION by Allen Cheng, infectious disease physician vaccine covid19
In the last few weeks, we’ve learned a lot about the Omicron variant. It has spread very quickly, first in South Africa and now in Britain and Denmark, with cases reported in many other countries. NSW is now seeing the early stages of an Omicron surge, and cases have been reported in most other parts of Australia.
A small study from Britain has been cited as evidence that boosters provide strong protection against Omicron. It suggests that vaccine protection against infection with Omicron is lower than against the Delta variant, but is higher in those who received boosters than in those who have not. How protective the vaccine is against infection can be different from how protective it is against severe disease. One unpublished study from South Africa suggests that those who received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine were only 30 per cent less likely to be infected, but were 70 per cent less likely to be hospitalised.
There are also risks in bringing forward boosters. In general, booster doses of vaccine given early are not expected to provide protection for as long as if they are given later. Providing a booster of the original vaccine now may interfere with later variant vaccines.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
There are risks in bringing forward boosters; we need to play the long gameThe decision to stay firm on a five-month interval for boosters is based on sound reasoning.
Read more »
‘Looks set to fail’: Patients turned away as booster demand surgesDoctors are turning away patients booking COVID-19 booster shots as the country’s peak medical association warns Australia’s booster program is already falling dangerously behind.
Read more »
Heroic optimism: Dipped in red, Qantas takes a glass half-full approachQantas boss, Alan Joyce, is banking on the fact that Australian travellers are prepared to play a game of COVID chicken.
Read more »
Situation ‘evolving rapidly’ but ATAGI keeps booster gap at five monthsBreaking: Situation ‘evolving rapidly’ but ATAGI keeps booster gap at five months
Read more »
'We will get through': Perrottet's message to NSW as COVID-19 cases risePremier Dominic Perrottet has told New South Wales residents 'now's not the time to get complacent' but declared 'we want to move forward' as COVID-19 cases in the state increase.
Read more »
Huge change to vaccine rolloutPrime Minister Scott Morrison says the nation’s immunisation authority is reviewing the booster shot rollout “every week”, with the nation “ready to go” if the interval time is cut by another month.
Read more »