COVID-19 vaccines are working to protect against death along with some protection against hospitalization and mild infections. The latter protections seem to be declining in effectiveness plus Delta variant (and Lamba variant) are some of the reasons why US announce approval of a third shot (dose) for US population at 8 months or later after receiving the first two doses of Pfizer/BioNTech SE & Moderna.
Data from three studies published in latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention weekly report helped to lead The White House to make a decision. CDC director Rochelle Walensky said at news briefing:
“First, vaccine-induced protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection begins to decrease over time.
Second, vaccine effectiveness against severe disease, hospitalization and death remains relatively high.
And third, vaccine effectiveness is generally decreased against the delta variant.”
In essence, the Coronavirus Vaccines show declining effectiveness against infection overall over time but strong protection against hospitalization amid Delta variant.
US stance has lead to an ethical debate as whether it is right for a third dose or be offered where some countries globally still haven’t received shipment of first dose. World Health Organization recently launched a campaign to highlight the vaccine inequity by calling it bad for business along with calling a moratorium on boosters (this third shot) to ensure that lifesaving vaccine supply can be directed to low-income countries where populations need them right now.
More stats via World Health Organization about COVID-19 vaccine equity and distribution globally:
- Of the more than four billion vaccine doses administered globally, 75% have been administered in just 10 countries.
- While in most low-income countries, just over 1% of people have received at least one dose.
Leads to this week question on discussing this gap between the haves and have nots that will likely grow even further as high-income countries announce that they will start giving booster shots out.
If offered, would you take the third dose of COVID-19 vaccine?
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