• Home
  • Health & Wellness
  • Disclaimer
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • DMCA Notice
Podcast
  • Home
  • Health & Wellness
  • Disclaimer
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • DMCA Notice
24/7 Health News
No Result
View All Result
Home Article

COVID vaccines: should people under 50 in the UK be offered a fourth dose?

December 1, 2022
in Article
0
COVID vaccines: should people under 50 in the UK be offered a fourth dose?
file 20221126 21 5bziuh

Studio Romantic/Shutterstock

It’s been nearly two years since Margaret Keenan became the first person in the world to receive an approved COVID vaccine at a clinic in Coventry on December 8, 2020. Since then, almost 13 billion doses of various COVID vaccines have been administered globally. And they are estimated to have prevented millions of deaths.

The UK government reports that nearly 54 million British people have received their first dose, almost 51 million a second dose, and more than 40 million a third dose or booster jab. Recently, the NHS launched an autumn booster campaign offering a fourth dose to more vulnerable groups.

Autumn boosters are available to people aged over 50 or with certain health conditions, as well as frontline health and social care workers, to maximise their protection ahead of winter. Of some 26 million people eligible for an autumn booster in England, more than half have now taken it up.

While prioritising higher-risk groups in the rollout of booster jabs has been the right approach, would it be worthwhile at this stage to extend the offer to UK adults under 50? The data isn’t yet conclusive on how effective this would be. But available evidence does indicate the benefits of a fourth dose would outweigh any risks for younger adults.

Like the UK, some countries have rolled out targeted booster campaigns, making fourth doses available only to vulnerable groups. For example, France, Italy, Germany and Israel offer fourth doses to adults over 60 or with underlying medical conditions, while the US offers second boosters to anyone over 50 or with a weakened immune system.

On the other hand, Australia not only recommends a fourth dose to adults over 50, but has also advised that anyone between 30 and 49 can receive one if they choose to.

Earlier in the pandemic, vaccine supply struggled to keep up with the huge demand, justifying the rationing and strict strategic planning with regards to the allocation of available doses. But vaccine shortages became less of an issue in the UK as demand fell.

Given this, and with different countries taking different approaches to eligibility for a second booster, it’s reasonable to question the best course of action.




Read more:
COVID vaccines don’t just benefit physical health – they improve mental health too


What does the evidence say?

While there’s substantial evidence that fourth doses are effective at boosting the immune response and reducing the risk of death in older and vulnerable people, we have limited data on which to base the decision to offer them to healthy younger adults.

One study which was published in March 2022 showed that fourth doses of Pfizer or Moderna’s mRNA vaccines restored antibody levels in healthcare workers over 29 years old. Compared with a control group who had only had three doses, those who had four were slightly better protected against infection and symptomatic disease. But the authors remarked that “a fourth vaccination of healthy young health care workers may have only marginal benefits”.

Another study published in July 2022 looked at antibody levels after a fourth dose among a group of healthcare workers with an average age of 43. Based on the results, the authors suggested that a fourth dose could prevent severe cases of COVID and decrease hospitalisations in younger and healthy people.

Both studies reported only mild adverse effects, such as pain at the injection site, echoing broader evidence which demonstrates the safety of fourth doses.

A ‘catch-22’

At a time when the majority of the world’s population has developed some level of immunity against COVID (via vaccination, infection or both), does the possibly limited additional protection provided to young adults by second boosters justify the logistical and financial costs of administering them?

The limited availability of evidence on which to assess whether to offer the fourth dose to younger people constitutes somewhat of a “catch-22”. We need more data to be able to answer this question with certainty. At the same time, abundant additional data can’t be obtained without allowing healthy young adults to receive the fourth jab if they choose to.

That said, based on the available evidence there are two key factors that, taken together, suggest it might be worth extending the fourth jab offer to healthy people under 50.

The first is that COVID immunity (whether obtained via vaccination or infection) wanes over time, particularly with respect to new viral variants. The vaccines being given as fourth doses in the UK and elsewhere are called bivalent boosters, designed to provide broader protection by boosting immunity against both the original strain of the virus and the omicron variant.

The second important factor is that the adverse effects of COVID vaccinations are less frequent and severe than the well-documented consequences of the infection itself, many of which are long-lasting and not yet fully understood.




Read more:
What happened to the AstraZeneca vaccine? Now rare in rich countries, it’s still saving lives around the world


On balance, while we continue to gather and analyse evidence, it might be reasonable to extend the offer of a fourth dose to all adults under 50 on a voluntary basis. As a person in my 30s whose daily work involves teaching large groups of people, if I was offered a fourth dose tomorrow I would have no hesitation in taking it to protect myself and my students.

The Conversation

Alessandro Siani does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

ShareTweetSharePin
Previous Post

As young people in rich countries drink less alcohol, elsewhere youth drinking is on the rise – podcast

Next Post

How parents can play a key role in the prevention and treatment of teen mental health problems

Next Post
How parents can play a key role in the prevention and treatment of teen mental health problems

How parents can play a key role in the prevention and treatment of teen mental health problems

Most Read

What causes stuttering? A speech pathology researcher explains the science and the misconceptions around this speech disorder

What causes stuttering? A speech pathology researcher explains the science and the misconceptions around this speech disorder

December 15, 2022
morning back pain

Morning Again Ache Trigger Is Not the Mattress

October 11, 2021
lower back pain relief exercises

5 decrease again ache aid workouts

October 11, 2021
3 years after legalization, we have shockingly little information about how it changed cannabis use and health harms

3 years after legalization, we have shockingly little information about how it changed cannabis use and health harms

October 15, 2021
Nasal vaccines promise to stop the COVID-19 virus before it gets to the lungs – an immunologist explains how they work

Nasal vaccines promise to stop the COVID-19 virus before it gets to the lungs – an immunologist explains how they work

December 14, 2022
bleeding in gum

When The Bleeding in gum Is Severe ?

October 11, 2021
Good Night Sleep

6 Causes of Good Evening Sleep

October 11, 2021

COVID vaccines: how one can pace up rollout in poorer international locations

October 5, 2021
Ten small changes you can make today to prevent weight gain

Ten small changes you can make today to prevent weight gain

October 12, 2021
Support and collaboration with health-care providers can help people make health decisions

Support and collaboration with health-care providers can help people make health decisions

December 16, 2021
Greece to make COVID vaccines mandatory for over-60s, but do vaccine mandates work?

Greece to make COVID vaccines mandatory for over-60s, but do vaccine mandates work?

December 1, 2021

Multiple sclerosis: the link with earlier infection just got stronger – new study

October 12, 2021
News of war can impact your mental health — here’s how to cope

Binge-eating disorder is more common than many realise, yet it’s rarely discussed – here’s what you need to know

December 2, 2022
Nurses’ attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination for their children are highly influenced by partisanship, a new study finds

Nurses’ attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination for their children are highly influenced by partisanship, a new study finds

December 2, 2022
Kick up your heels – ballroom dancing offers benefits to the aging brain and could help stave off dementia

Kick up your heels – ballroom dancing offers benefits to the aging brain and could help stave off dementia

January 3, 2023
How hot is too hot for the human body? Our lab found heat + humidity gets dangerous faster than many people realize

How hot is too hot for the human body? Our lab found heat + humidity gets dangerous faster than many people realize

July 6, 2022
The promise of repairing bones and tendons with human-made materials

The promise of repairing bones and tendons with human-made materials

January 4, 2022
As viral infections skyrocket, masks are still a tried-and-true way to help keep yourself and others safe

As viral infections skyrocket, masks are still a tried-and-true way to help keep yourself and others safe

December 14, 2022
How regulatory agencies, not the courts, are imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates

How regulatory agencies, not the courts, are imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates

October 24, 2021
Heart disease risk from saturated fats may depend on what foods they come from – new research

Heart disease risk from saturated fats may depend on what foods they come from – new research

November 29, 2021
Late night eating may cause greater weight gain – new research points to why

Late night eating may cause greater weight gain – new research points to why

October 12, 2022

10 Things I Learned During My Body Transformation

October 12, 2021

7 Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes

October 12, 2021
Nobel prize: how chilli peppers helped researchers uncover how humans feel pain

Nobel prize: how chilli peppers helped researchers uncover how humans feel pain

October 12, 2021
How air filters can make COVID wards safer for patients and staff

How air filters can make COVID wards safer for patients and staff

December 1, 2021
GPs don’t give useful weight-loss advice – new study

GPs don’t give useful weight-loss advice – new study

December 16, 2022
Four ways to avoid gaining weight over the festive period – but also why you shouldn’t fret about it too much

Four ways to avoid gaining weight over the festive period – but also why you shouldn’t fret about it too much

December 22, 2022
Five ways to avoid pain and injury when starting a new exercise regime

Five ways to avoid pain and injury when starting a new exercise regime

December 30, 2022
Why suicide prevention support is crucial for people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Why suicide prevention support is crucial for people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

September 28, 2022
Too hot to handle: Climate considerations for youth sport during the hottest years on record

Too hot to handle: Climate considerations for youth sport during the hottest years on record

July 19, 2022
  • Home
  • Health & Wellness
  • Disclaimer

© 2020 DAILY HEALTH NEWS

  • Home
  • Health & Wellness
  • Disclaimer
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • DMCA Notice

© 2020 DAILY HEALTH NEWS