when will we need covid-19 booster shots?

boosters strengthen the immune system by stimulating our bodies’ b-cells , which produce new antibodies. the booster works by triggering the memory of the original vaccine in some b-cells, which causes the body to kickstart producing the necessary antibodies again.

“people who are immunocompromised do generate lower antibody levels and they decline faster over time,” dr. allison mcgeer, an infectious disease specialist at mount sinai hospital in toronto, told cbc news . in other words, they’re the people who could benefit most from a booster shot.

do we need covid booster shots?
the drug companies say yes — but so far, health authorities have said it isn’t necessary for the general public yet.

in the spring, moderna released results from a study that found booster shots were effective in increasing immunity against new variants of the virus, such as the p.1 or gamma variant, and b.1.351, now known as the beta variant. (it’s worth noting, though, that this is early data from a small trial.) and pfizer and johnson & johnson have both said it’s possible that peop le will need annual covid vaccine boosters, similar to the way we get yearly flu shots. 

health canada has said research shows people are protected up to 9 months after their second dose . but research from washington university school of medicine in st. louis, missouri has indicated that the mrna vaccines — pfizer and moderna — could provide immunity for years.

“it’s a good sign for how durable our immunity is from this vaccine,” immunologist ali ellebedy, who led the study, told the new york times .

will we get boosters in canada?
maybe — but not yet. health canada said friday that “the need for future booster doses is being closely monitored,” given the new virus’s new variants, but that there aren’t any immediate plans for a booster rollout.

what about other countries?
israel, dealing with high infection numbers from the delta variant, said sunday it will start offering booster shots , first to  immunocompromised people, health minister nitzan horowitz said, and will decide at a later day if the booster policy will extend to the general population.

the u.k. has started planning a booster rollout beginning this fall, although the government has not yet made a final decision to go ahead yet. the plan involves starting with people who live in long-term care facilities, are immunocompromised, or are above 70 years old.

“right now, given the data and the information we have, we do not need to give people a third shot,” fauci told cnn on sunday. it’s possible that later on, boosters will be encouraged, he said, but for now, they haven’t been deemed necessary.

would the booster shot be the same vaccine for a third time?
maybe. moderna’s booster research has tested both its existing formula and a new version designed to combat the beta variant, and said both were effective against the strain.

does it make sense to focus on boosters when much of the world hasn’t had a single dose?
many experts say no — including dr. tedros adhanom ghebreyesus, director general of the world health organization.

“some countries with high vaccination coverage are now planning to roll out booster shots in the coming months,” he said at a press conference last week.

“if you give those [third] doses here, it means that you’re not giving them elsewhere,” she told cbc . “at this point in time, what is absolutely needed is for the entire planet to be vaccinated, because if we want to stop the emergence of all those variants of concern that we’re seeing like day in, day out, we absolutely need to have everyone vaccinated.”

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