Coronavirus vaccine: Who needs, and who may not require a COVID booster shot right now

There have been a lot of discussions surrounding the use of booster shots. From high efficacy to strengthening immune protection, with more that we are learning about the waning efficacy of vaccines, and the number of variants in circulation, it's looking relatively real that booster shots may be needed for use sooner than later.

However, there's still no scientific surety if everyone will be requiring one of the booster shots.

Even with these vaccinations, of course, there comes the issue of prioritization and making resources available. Many experts also say that while we seriously consider booster shots with COVID vaccination, there may not be a need, or urgent requirement to get every eligible beneficiary a booster shot. There's also little clinical evidence available to suggest that booster vaccines work for everybody.

Scientifically, too, even with all the benefits, while booster shot usage has been well-studied and evidenced to scale up immune response generated by the vaccines, it has been shown to garner the greatest promise for those who may not be able to mount an efficient response in the first place, or have been immunized long back.

Reinoculation with a COVID-19 vaccine dose, such as with the mRNA or viral vector vaccines could scale up immune reaction and generate more tolerable, as well as longer lasting immunity. While it has been recommended that booster shots be introduced after 6 months of previous vaccination, there may also be a percentile who may not need a prioritized care. While the debate around their usage continues, we tell you the risk factors which may garner a more pressing requirement than others.

Frontline warriors have played a critical role in saving millions of lives and curbing the pandemic from getting worse. With their jobs, they also face the risk of high viral exposure, health hazards and thus, at a crucial timeline like this, doctors, essential care workers, who were one of the first ones to be immunized across nations, should be prioritized for booster vaccination. Allowing administration of booster shots will also provide an extra layer of protection from reinfection and dangers posed by the virulent strains.

Senior populations, particularly those above the age of 65 are not just at the risk of underlying health threats, but also frailing and weakening immune defences. Thus, with vaccination, while many were able to save themselves from the risk of severity and mortality, now could be the time when immunity could fast wane and put them at risk again. When and where a booster vaccine is available, senior populations will require more care. Senior citizens may also require more prioritized care, since certain studies have showcased that vaccine efficacy could decline faster, and more over time in comparison to general estimates.

Those who are immunocompromised, i.e. have suppressing conditions which do not allow their immune systems to generate a healthy response in the first place were one of the first priority groups to be advised for additional-vaccination. For somebody who is probably immunocompromised, autoimmune conditions or other issues could not help them mount an appropriate response to provide protection against severe infections or hospitalization risk. Thus, getting a third dose may help them establish a similar level of immune response like other healthy adults. In places where booster shots have been made available, immunocompromised people of all ages have been granted access to additional doses.

Underlying conditions, including diabetes (both Type-1 and Type-2), high cholesterol, heart problems, thyroid ailments, respiratory and pulmonary disorders, vascular complications, kidney or renal failure, cancer, chronic immuno-suppressant conditions could often pose a double risk for those who may be suffering from one- not only are they at a greater risk for severe COVID risk and dying from the disease, but they may also encounter problems drafting effective vaccine immunity in the first place. The risk may be higher for those who may be battling more than one condition at a time. Thus, they will need to be one group who would require added protection right now, to safeguard their health.

Having said that, while these groups may require more urgent care and added precautions, booster shots can be introduced later, or not be urgently pushed for the remainder of the population. We tell you why

In countries with active booster vaccination policies, many younger than 55 are actively considering getting third doses, in view of rising precedence of Delta variant and its sub-lineage. However, current proof available has shown that they may not actually have a critical need, and the protection they have is sufficient.

For a healthier population, i..e those who do not have serious comorbidities and are younger than 55, getting a booster shot may not be as effective, or needed right now. Being fully immunized and following proper COVID appropriate behaviour will be more than enough at this point. Not only do we have a robust, healthy immune system which actively works to protect us, getting a third vaccine dose over and above previous vaccination may not be too favourable at this point. Clinical evidence available at this point has also established that the vaccines still do extremely well in preventing severe risk thresholds, compared to older adults.

While children in India are yet to be immunized , scientists have also suggested that children and teenagers may not make for a favourable candidate for booster vaccination. While vaccines are extremely effective, children have growing immune systems which can protect them well, and they also do not have severe COVID-19 risks in the first place.

Having recently recovered from COVID-19 could imply that an individual has a certain established level of natural immunity in the body, which could be helpful and protect them for long. Some studies have also suggested that even a single dose of the vaccine, for those who are recently recovered can prove quite beneficial and garner long-standing immunity. While more discussions are needed on the same, if you have been infected in the recent month or two, booster shots could be satisfactorily delayed for a considerable while, without any urgent need.