The recent announcement from Pfizer and BioNTech has placed the prospects of a third booster dose for their Covid-19 vaccine (BNT162b2) in the spotlight. This significant development unfolds as the global health landscape grapples with the Delta strain of Covid-19 – a highly transmissible variant.
An Overview on Booster Shots
In essence, a booster shot is a method to fortify one’s immune response against a specific pathogen. It could either be an identical version of the initial vaccine aimed at amplifying the strength of protection by producing more antibodies. Alternatively, scientists could modify the booster’s constituents if the goal revolves around shielding individuals from a newer variant. This variant would be a mutated version that significantly deviates from the original virus strain against which people received vaccination. It’s critical to note that these booster shots are exclusively for those who have already been fully vaccinated.
The Importance of Booster Shots
The necessity for these booster shots arises in two primary scenarios. Firstly, they would be especially beneficial for the elderly and immunocompromised individuals. These groups, due to their weakened immune systems, possibly did not generate substantial protection against the virus after receiving the first two vaccine doses.
Secondly, if research suggests that a new variant has the capabilities to evade the antibodies produced by a particular vaccine, then the need for a revamped booster shot comes into play.
Current Concerns Surrounding Booster Shots
Despite their potential benefits, booster shots are yet to receive endorsement from the World Health Organisation (WHO). In fact, WHO urges wariness about promoting third vaccination doses. It labels such recommendation as premature and unnecessary, primarily due to the lack of sufficient data on booster shots. Furthermore, there’s also the issue that high-risk demographics in numerous parts of the world are still awaiting complete administration of the base vaccine doses.
To recap, it’s clear that booster shots could be instrumental in consolidating the global fight against Covid-19, particularly with the advent of new virus variants. However, it’s equally important to proceed with caution, given the current lack of substantive data and the pressing need to vaccinate the unvaccinated – especially those at high risk.