“The data around the second booster is less clear. Much of the research comes from Israel, where fourth doses have been widely available since the end of January. One study there of adults over 60 found that those who had a fourth Covid-19 vaccine had 78% lower risk of death during the Omicron surge compared with those who had a third shot at least four months earlier. However, the number of deaths was low in both groups.
Another Israeli study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that while a fourth shot increased antibodies, it didn't boost protection much, and those who became infected were mildly symptomatic regardless of whether they had three or four shots. Complicating it all is that it's unclear how long the enhanced protection from the fourth dose will last.
All this says to me that the question of whether people should receive a fourth dose is not straightforward to answer. This cannot be a blanket recommendation to everyone, but rather nuanced guidance that's tailored to each person's individual medical circumstance.”
http://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/31/health/vaccine-covid-booster-omicron-wellness/index.html
In a few words: There is no free lunch.
A good overview of the issue. The two studies kinda contradict each other.
To boost or not to boost, that is the question. I personally would prefer to get a variant specific or more general vaccine/booster by summer’s end going into fall and winter.
I think the second study highlights the fact that the new variant will evade the antibodies looking for the original variant easier than Omicron, although it protects well against serious disease, and that we need a newer, smarter vaccine ….soon.
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