The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee said public health agencies need to define the purpose of COVID-19 booster or run the risk of Americans getting “booster fatigue,” according to a recent article in Medpage. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met last Wednesday to provide updates on coronavirus vaccine safety.
Public health experts said during the meeting there hasn’t been a clear voice defining the CDC’s vaccine strategy. Beth Bell, M.D, clinical professor at the University of Washington School of Public Health, said multiple boosters give the impression the COVID-19 vaccine is ineffective.
“People are losing confidence in the vaccination program,” Bell said.
Although data presented by the CDC showed modest benefits of boosters, they also did not show any additional harm. Late last month, the Food and Drug Administration authorized a second COVID-19 booster for people 50 and older, as well as people over the age of 12 who are immunocompromised. The CDC also updated its guidance supporting a fourth shot.
Last week, White House COVID-19 czar Ashish K. Jha, M.D., advised people over age 60 to get the second booster. Jha said seniors in Israel who received a second booster saw a significant reduction in both infections and death four months after getting vaccinated.
