A new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine analyzes the United States’ COVID-19 vaccination policy.
Currently, several other countries recommend the vaccine for high risk individuals, but the U.S. pushes it for everyone over the age of 6 months.
The study authors argue that “the benefit of repeat dosing — particularly among low-risk persons who may have previously received multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccines, had multiple COVID-19 infections, or both — is uncertain.” Less people, including healthcare workers, are receiving their annual boosters. The authors say this might be because vaccine trust is dwindling.
According to the paper, “the FDA will adopt the following COVID-19 vaccination regulatory framework: On the basis of immunogenicity — proof that a vaccine can generate antibody titers in people — the FDA anticipates that it will be able to make favorable benefit–risk findings for adults over the age of 65 years and for all persons above the age of 6 months with one or more risk factors that put them at high risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes, as described by the CDC.” Additionally, the FDA will call for more clinical trials in low-risk individuals. The authors, who emphasize the need for more vaccine information, are in support of this.
