UK Committee advises against immediate 2nd COVID-19 booster program

On Friday, the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization advised against the immediate need for a fourth dose (second booster dose) of the COVID-19 vaccine for vulnerable individuals.

The Committee noted that an immediate second booster program would increase the operational pressures on the rest of the COVID-19 vaccine program.

Instead, the Committee recommended that the UK government direct efforts to provide the third dose (the first booster dose) to as many adults as possible to increase protection against the Omicron variant.

Committee Chair, Professor Wei Shen Lim, said current data showed that the first booster dose provided high-level protection against severe disease even in vulnerable older age groups.

Professor Wei Shen Lim stated, “For this reason, the committee has concluded there is no immediate need to introduce a second booster dose, though this will continue to be reviewed.”