The CDC updated its COVID-19 vaccine guidance, stating that one updated dose is enough even for individuals who received their last vaccination more than six months ago, the San Francisco Chronicle reported March 28.
Receiving more than one updated booster is not currently authorized by the FDA, according to the CDC. U.S. health officials are reportedly trying to move the nation toward an annual booster aimed at reducing the severity of the disease rather than prevention. Recent studies showed the protection provided by the bivalent booster shot decreased after a few months, but health officials say there's not enough data to justify rolling out another round of shots.
"The bottom line is that there is some waning of protection for those who got boosters more than six months ago and haven't had an intervening infection," Bob Wachter, MD, UCSF's chair of medicine, told the Chronicle. "But the level of protection versus severe infection continues to be fairly high, good enough that people who aren't at super high risk are probably fine waiting until a new booster comes out in the fall."
Only 16.4 percent of those eligible to receive the latest booster have, according to the report.
On March 28, the World Health Organization also updated its COVID-19 vaccination guidelines, recommending booster shots for older and high-risk groups, but suggesting healthy children and adolescents may not need the shot.