The Superior Health Council (CSS) does not recommend, for the moment, the administration of a new dose of vaccine once morest covid-19 for the general population, nor does it recommend the systematic administration of this vaccine. dose for people over 80 and residents of nursing homes and other care communities, regardless of age.
According to the CSS opinion validated on Wednesday, the current epidemiological situation in Belgium is not worrying and a second booster dose (either the 3rd or 4th dose depending on the type of vaccine) should not have an impact on the number of hospital admissions or intensive care load. The epidemiological situation must be monitored very closely, he adds.
The opinion emphasizes the primary vaccination schedule (one or two doses depending on the product) and the first booster dose which remain “priorities” in the fight once morest serious forms of the disease and must therefore be promoted. It also stresses the importance of administering a first booster dose quickly for people for whom it is recommended, in particular those over 65 and people with comorbidities.
The CSS further notes in its conclusions that vaccine efficacy once morest hospitalization remains following the administration of the primary doses and the first booster. On the other hand, protection once morest symptomatic infections decreases more quickly, he says. However, both the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Medicines Agency note that there is “no clear evidence in the EU that vaccine protection once morest the severe disease significantly decreases in adults 60 to 79 years of age with a normal immune system and therefore no clear evidence to support the immediate use of a second booster dose”.
Moreover, at this stage of the monitoring of side effects, “there is no additional safety problem related to the administration of a second booster”, says the opinion.
