Studies show many people may not need a fourth COVID-19 booster for several months, or even years
If you recently got a booster shot to protect from Covid-19, you might not need anything else for several months, or even a few years, the new study suggests According to a study released earlier this week and reported by Apoorva Mandavilli for the New York Times, receiving three mRNA vaccinations from Pfizer-Bionontech or Moderna to help the body create a variety of very effective antibodies in not only preventing death and severe disease, but also in protecting against variants.
John Wherry, Director of the Immunology Institute at Pennsylvania University, told The New York Times that scientists “began to see now more reduced in the number of additional doses,” noting that the fourth vaccination may not be necessary to protect from death and serious illness for adults average.
Nytimes also quotes at least four studies that find that the immune system – using special T cells produced by vaccines or after infection – able to remember and attack viruses after a few months and can even do it for years It is not impossible to imagine this result because scientists have observed this right response to individuals infected with SARS Coronavirus.
In the SARS case, a study found that individuals exposed to the virus during the 2003 outbreak still carrying T cells that could remember and target viruses more than 17 years later. Health officials believe this can also occur with Covid-19 However, data is not conclusive because experts continue to collect more information. The study came as a medical official considering the guide around the additional booster, a discussion Dr. Anthony Fauci, Head of President Joe Biden’s medical advisor, said in December “too preterm.”
“One of the things we will follow with very carefully is the resistance of the following protection with the third dose of the MRNA vaccine,” said Fauci in December. “If the protection is far more durable than the two non-boosted dose groups, and we can do a significant period of time without requiring the fourth dose.”
However, experts say vulnerable demographics such as parents and immunocompromised can benefit from the fourth shot. Countries such as Sweden and Israel have become the first to offer additional booster to high-risk communities.
