By Percy Koontz
The talk about COVID-19 vaccines has been going on for quite some time, but is it coming to an end or is this just the start?
The answer is the discussion is only just beginning. While the US has been able to vaccinate the majority of its population, some smaller countries have yet to receive their first doses. This conflicts with the goal of “herd immunity”, which is achieving immunity against COVID-19 among the majority of the population. Therefore, the insufficient distribution of the vaccine disrupts the ability to obtain maximum protection against COVID-19.
In addition to the lack of vaccines in developing countries, the Delta variant of COVID-19 has led to a greater need for majority protection. As such, the topic of booster shots has become more prominent.
To understand the importance of booster shots, we must be informed about the current situation surrounding the COVID vaccines. Elizabeth Colantuoni, Ph.D. Senior Scientist at The Bloomberg School of Public Health, says, “Efficacy for severe disease remains quite high, but there is some decrease in efficacy, or symptomatic mild infections.”
The decrease of efficacy (effectiveness) in vaccines could lead to the increase of cases emerging among fully vaccinated individuals. These cases are known as “break-through cases.”
“When everyone is vaccinated there will be fewer infections, it will keep people out of the hospital, and the virus won’t have a place to continue spreading as much.” says Dr. Aaron Milstone, Associate Hospital Epidemiologist and Johns Hopkins Hospital Pediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist. “As the virus spreads, it changes; it is going to turn into some super virus that the vaccine won’t kill, and the medicines won’t work against.”
The way to defeat COVID-19 is through the vaccination of the entire population. By vaccinating and protecting the maximum number of people around the world, the likelihood that COVID-19 could mutate into new variants decreases.
“We should vaccinate everyone in poor countries right now with the vaccine that we have, to prevent the virus from spreading more; to save the world. The problem with that is unfortunately that there is no operational plan.” says Dr. Aaron Milstone, “In the absence of that plan, the virus is still spreading among vaccinated people in the US. So, if a booster may help prevent the spread in the vaccinated population, that will get us close to our goal.”
In other words, to end COVID-19 we must vaccinate the world, but without a suitable plan to do so, the best way forward is to do what can be done in the meantime.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a statement to outline the current standing plan for distribution booster shots. The statement approves the distribution of booster shots to groups of people who fall under the category of “high-risk.”
There are multiple definitions of high-risk people. High-risk could be used in referring to individuals who work in high-risk environments, like hospitals, or high-risk could be referring to immunocompromised people.
The high-risk people approved to receive the COVID booster shots are clearly listed by the CDC: “People who should get a booster shot are people 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings, and people aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions. People who may get a booster shot are people aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions and people aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of an occupational or institutional setting.”
The goal of vaccination has always been to protect the world from COVID-19 by vaccinating as many people as possible. However, with the impasse caused by the inadequate distribution of shots, the current way forward is through giving booster shots to those who need them.
COVID-19 has been a topic of much discussion for nearly two years, but the fight against the virus pushes onward. More information, as well as changes in the plan for booster shot distribution, comes out every day. It is important to keep up with all that is happening so as to better protect oneself against COVID-19 and its new variants.
Commentaires