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LONDON (AP) – Booster shots to extend protection from COVID-19 vaccines may be unnecessary for many people, a leading scientist behind the AstraZeneca vaccine said on Friday.
Oxford University professor Sarah Gilbert told The Telegraph that the vaccine’s immunity held up well, even against the delta variant. While the elderly and those who are immunocompromised may need boosters, the standard two-dose regimen provides long-lasting protection for most people, she said.
“We will look at each situation; the immunocompromised and the elderly will receive boosters, ”she said. “But I don’t think we need to boost everyone. Immunity lasts well in the majority of people.
The comments come as the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization, an expert group that advises the UK government, is expected to make recommendations in the coming days on the scale of any booster program. The British medical regulator said on Thursday that the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines could be used safely as boosters.
UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said he expects a recall program to start later this month.
Gilbert said the global priority should be to get more vaccines to countries that have received limited supplies.
“We need to get vaccines to countries where few people have been vaccinated so far,” Gilbert said. “We need to do better in this regard. The first dose has the most impact.
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