Boosters Continue To Provide High Levels Of Protection Against Serious Illnesses Caused By Omicron In The Elderly

The numbers show that about 3 months after receiving the third vaccine, protection against hospitalization in people aged 65 and over remains at about 90%.

With just 2 doses of the vaccine, protection against serious illness drops to about 70% after 3 months and to 50% after 6 months.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) has factored this latter evidence into its ongoing review of the recall program.

The Committee advises that at present:

• there is no need to immediately introduce a second booster dose, or a fourth jab, for the most vulnerable people (residents of nursing homes and people over the age of 80) – when and how need for further booster doses will continue to be reviewed as the data evolves
• priority should continue to be given to the deployment of the first booster doses to all age groups
• unvaccinated people should show up for their first 2 doses as soon as possible

Professor Wei Shen Lim, the JCVIPresident of COVID-19 Vaccination, said:

Current data shows that the booster dose continues to provide high levels of protection against serious illness, even for the most vulnerable age groups. For this reason, the committee concluded that it was not necessary to introduce a second booster dose immediately, although this will continue to be reviewed.

The data is very encouraging and underscores the value of a boost. As Omicron continues to spread widely, I encourage everyone to come forward for their booster dose or, if not vaccinated, for their first 2 doses, to increase their protection against serious illness.

The latest study looked at booster doses in people over the age of 65, who were among the first to be eligible when the booster rollout began in mid-September.

While with a booster dose the duration of protection against severe disease remains high, the protection against mild symptomatic infection is shorter and drops to about 30% in about 3 months.