US warns vaccine effectiveness declines over time, starts with third dose

Joe Biden’s government will begin providing a Third dose of coronavirus booster vaccines to all Americans starting September 20, senior health officials said on Wednesday after concluding that a booster was needed to fight the Delta variant.

In a joint statement from leading U.S. public health and medical experts, the government confirmed its intention to start offering the booster vaccines after examine a wide range of data.

The plan, what only applies to Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, requires all Americans to receive a booster shot eight months after receiving their second dose. Health workers, those living in nursing homes and the elderly they are the first who will receive the reinforcement from September 20.

Officials said they hope a booster injection will be needed for people who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccinebut they’re still reviewing the data and will announce plans at a later date.

Protection falls

“The available data show very clearly that protection against infection with SARS-CoV-2 starts to decline over time after the initial doses of vaccination, and in association with the prevalence of the Delta variant, we begin to see evidence of reduced protection against mild and moderate disease, ”the statement said.

He continues: “For this reason, we conclude that a booster injection will be necessary to maximize protection vaccine and prolong its durability ”.

Applying a third dose was a topic that had been talked about for weeks, especially before the advance of the variable Delta, which has produced a spike in cases in the United States, particularly among the unvaccinated population.

Stored vaccines

This country may apply a third dose because there are millions still stored that have no destination. The use of a third dose, already applied in some countries like Israel, has opened a global debate on the advisability of this supply in the richest countries, while much of the world not yet immune and needs vaccines.

The statement is signed by eight health officials, including Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Vivek H. Murthy, general surgeon, and Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

The plan to offer booster vaccines is subject to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, which is expected in the coming weeks.

Washington, correspondent

ap