WHO warns that the booster shots would exacerbate inequalities by driving up demand and depleting finite supply, so the third vaccination dose should be based on solid data.
What is a booster shot
A booster shot is a supportive dose of an immunizing agent administered via injection. It is a vaccination that is administered regularly to 'boost' the immune system's effectiveness. For instance, doctors suggested tetanus and diphtheria (Td) booster shots for adults every 10 years. Similar is the case with Covid-19 Vaccine Booster Shots.
Difference between the booster shots of COVID-19 and other viruses
However, the only difference is, the booster shots for other viruses contain the same/ original vaccine and are repeated after a decade. For Covid-19, a new vaccine would be given as a booster shot every year. That is because the Covid-19 Virus causes respiratory diseases like influenza viruses, and such viruses tend to mutate rapidly, leaving the last dose nearly ineffective.
No alternative to a booster vaccine
There is currently no alternative to the COVID vaccination as a booster vaccine. Therefore, another dose of the original vaccine will be given as a booster shot. As the protection against coronavirus seems to be declining, which public health authorities believe is due to both diminishing immunity and the potency of the prevalent Delta mutant, the possibility of administering booster injections is increasing. Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention recommends that patients who are "moderately to severely immune-compromised" should have a COVID-19 booster injection at least 4 weeks following their second dosage. As per CDC, a booster shot will be required for all vaccinated Americans at some point in the future to ensure that the vaccine is as effective as possible.
Initial COVID vaccine still effective in preventing morbidities
Even after a booster shot requirement, the initial COVID vaccination is still very effective at avoiding mortality, hospitalizations, and serious infections, according to the CDC. In light of the upcoming variants, the sole option is to provide an extra prophylactic dose of the vaccine and get ahead of the risk for future decreasing immunity. A booster shot is still under review by the FDA, which will not approve the White House plan if it discovers problematic risks or side effects.
Approvals and strategies for booster shots
Assuming the FDA approves, booster doses might be available as early as September 20, 2021. A booster dosage of Pfizer/BioNTech's vaccine is under consideration for approval by the FDA based on data submitted to the agency. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, however, must provide the FDA with more booster data. One-shot vaccination recipients may require a "booster," according to the US Department of Health and Human Services, but a strategy for them will be developed once more information becomes available.
Boosters in the UK
A vaccine booster program is expected to begin in the UK within the next month, with third doses being provided initially to the most at-risk groups in the country. As of September 2021, France and Germany intend to provide a third dosage to the elderly and the most vulnerable.
Chances of inequities
WHO warns that the booster shots will exacerbate inequalities by driving up demand and depleting finite supply. WHO emphasized that the third vaccination dose should be based on solid data and targeted to the population segments in most need, rather than the young healthy population who are in a hurry for a third shot merely so they may travel.
The decision to provide third doses to all Americans is opposed by many experts, who believe that the most essential goal should be to distribute the initial vaccine both within the United States and worldwide equally. World Health Organization has even begun encouraging affluent countries to delay booster doses to increase vaccination rates in underdeveloped countries. To date, this percentage remains below 10% in undeveloped countries.