Belgium, Europe: The Superior Health Council is not suggesting a second vaccination booster dose against the COVID-19 infection. The booster dose against COVID-19 for the general population is now ruling out an extra shot for next winter.
The vaccination Taskforce in Belgium raised the question to the Superior Health Council for an opinion on the requirement for a second booster on, for many, what would be the fourth dose.
Moreover, the council has now stated that the epidemiological situation in Belgium is not worrying at the moment, and the scientific models do not predict any effect of a potential extra booster dose on the number of admissions in the overall health care centre in the nation.
The report said, “At present, the Council does not recommend a second booster dose for the general population.”
Along with this, it currently also does not recommend “a systematic second booster dose for people more than 80 years old as well as residents of nursing homes and care communities (regardless of age).”
This means that Belgium will likely not make the decision to administer a dose to care home residents before the summer. In addition, a second booster may still be necessary for the following winter. The report highlighted that “no additional safety concerns related to a second booster dose were found” at this stage.
Meanwhile, as per the council, the data depicts the information that a regular vaccination schedule which includes one booster dose, remains effective against the people getting admitted to the hospital.
Furthermore, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) currently see “no clear evidence” of a significant decline in vaccine protection against severe diseases in adults 80 years old with a regular immune system.
