Switzerland: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that it no longer recommends additional COVID-19 vaccine booster doses for regular, medium-risk adults as the benefit is marginal.

According to the WHO’s vaccine experts, for people who have received their primary vaccination course and one booster dose, there is no risk in having further jabs.

The UN health agency’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) issued updated recommendations after its regular biannual meeting. The new announcement reflects the impact of the dominant Omicron variant of the virus and the high  level of immunity achieved in the population through infection and vaccination.

SAGE came up with three new, simplified priority categories for COVID-19 vaccination, which are high, medium, and low, based on the risk of severe disease or death.

The experts recommended additional booster shots after the first one only for people at the highest risk of developing severe COVID-19 disease. They include older adults, younger adults with comorbidities such as diabetes, people with immunocompromising conditions like HIV, pregnant women, and front-line healthcare workers.

“When it comes to the medium-risk group, additional booster doses are no longer recommended,” SAGE chair Dr. Hanna Nohynek remarked.

The medium-risk group includes healthy adults, usually under 60, and children and adolescents with comorbidities. SAGE recommends a primary series and a first booster dose.

“The vaccine is safe, and it’s efficient against serious disease and death. For the medium-risk group, the benefit of these additional boosters is actually quite marginal,” Dr. Nohynek added.

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