They are now approved for people over the age of twelve who have received at least one basic immunization.
According to this, people over the age of 60, immunocompromised and other vulnerable people (from the age of twelve) with underlying diseases that increase the risk of severe Covid-19, and pregnant women are at increased risk. In addition, residents and staff in nursing homes should be prioritised. Healthcare workers could also be considered in case of future new waves of SARS-CoV-2 due to their increased exposure.
A few days ago, the EU expanded its vaccine “arsenal” with two updated vaccines, Comirnaty Original/Omicron BA.1 and Spikevax Bivalent Original/Omicron BA.1. The bivalent formulations for use as a booster dose “augment immunity to variants of concern,” particularly Omicron and related sublines, it said. “We have a virus that is evolving rapidly and unpredictably. It is important that the EU has a wide range of vaccines that are updated in terms of their composition, so that Member States have more options when designing their vaccination strategies, their to meet demand,” said EMA Executive Director Emer Cooke.
“As these new vaccines are currently approved for booster use only, the original vaccines remain essential to increase coverage with a primary series among unvaccinated individuals to close the vaccination gap,” added ECDC Director Andrea Ammon. The original vaccines “continue to provide protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death” and should be used for primary vaccination and considered for booster doses when matched vaccines are not yet available, it was stressed.
Preliminary data would show that the BA.1-adapted vaccines also cover other omicron subvariants such as BA.2, BA.2.75 and BA.5. A vaccine specially tailored to the original strain and the subvariants Omikron BA.4 and BA.5 is currently also being evaluated.
The National Vaccination Committee (NIG) now recommends the booster vaccination for everyone over the age of twelve. Adapted variant vaccines should come to Austria in September. At a press conference by the NIG last week with Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens), it was advised not to wait – “go to the vaccination now” was the appeal.
Source: Nachrichten
