[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), once again emphasized the necessity of booster shots (additional vaccinations) for immunocompromised individuals.
On the 8th (local time), Fauci stated in an interview with NBC, "People with weakened immune systems do not show a strong immune response."
He said that if booster shots are introduced, the elderly and immunocompromised will be prioritized. Fauci said, "There is no doubt that vaccine protection weakens over time in the elderly," adding, "Just as when the vaccine was first supplied, the elderly and immunocompromised will be the first to receive the booster shots."
The U.S. government is expected to announce a booster shot vaccination plan as early as next month. According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to develop a strategy by early next month on who among the vaccinated should receive booster shots and when.
It is known that the effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine decreases by about 6% every two months after vaccination, and Moderna has stated that a third dose will be necessary this fall to protect against variant viruses.
Globally, Israel, the United Kingdom, and Germany have introduced or announced plans for booster shots. Israel began administering booster shots to those aged 60 and over starting this month. The UK and Germany also plan to vaccinate the elderly and immunocompromised starting next month.
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