Written By: IJCP Editorial Team

Published On: 30 Mar, 2023 5:33 PM | Updated On: 20 May, 2024 2:06 PM

COVID Vaccine Recommendations Changed For High-Risk Populations By WHO

The World Health Organization, on the 28th of March, revised its recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines, telling that high-risk populations should get an additional dose 12 months after their previous booster. WHO recommended this as a global best practice guide for a subset of people at particular risk.

The health agency defined high-risk cohorts as older adults and younger people with other significant risk factors. The agency recommends an additional vaccine shot 6 or 12 months after the latest dose for this group based on factors like age and immunocompromising conditions. On the other hand, it defined the group, like healthy children and adolescents, as "low priority" and advised countries to view factors like disease burden before recommending the vaccination of this group.

The recommendations came after the nations took varied approaches for their populations. Some high-income nations like the United Kingdom and Canada are already administering COVID-19 boosters to high-risk populations this spring, six months following their last dose.

At last, the WHO's committee of experts said that extra booster vaccines for COVID exceeding the initial series – two shots and a booster – are no longer routinely advised for the "medium risk" population.