EU health authorities allow second booster dose for over-80s

On the other hand, they consider it premature to issue a recommendation for the younger population.

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European Union health authorities on Wednesday (6 April) gave the green light to a second booster dose of Moderna and Pfizer’s Covid vaccines for people aged 80 and over, due to the “higher risk of developing a severe form of Covid-19 for this age group” and of “the protection provided by a fourth dose”.

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), on the other hand, have estimated that there are currently no “no conclusive evidence” within the EU that vaccine protection against serious diseases decreases considerably in adults aged 60 to 79, even if they “will continue to monitor the data”.

“If the current epidemiological situation changes and new signals appear, it may become necessary to consider a fourth dose in this age group”said the ECDC and the EMA in their press release.

In France, the second booster dose has already been open to people over 80 since mid-March. For its part, Germany recommends it to people over 70, to particularly vulnerable people and to health personnel.


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