[Q&A] "Will the Booster Shot Be Available to the General Public?"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The New York Times reported on the 14th (local time) that the United States is preparing a plan to start administering booster shots as early as this fall. Despite opposition from the World Health Organization (WHO), countries are increasingly deciding to administer booster shots due to the spread of the Delta variant. Here are some answers to common questions about booster shots.

-Who is eligible for the booster shots?

▲Countries that have started administering booster shots are prioritizing immunocompromised individuals and the elderly. Israel, which was the first in the world to introduce booster shots on the 12th of last month, began vaccinating people with weakened immunity due to immunosuppressive treatments after organ transplants, then expanded eligibility to those aged 60 and over on the 30th of the same month, and to those aged 50 and over on the 12th of this month. In the United States, nursing home residents, healthcare workers, and the elderly are likely to be the target groups. The UK, which plans to start vaccinations next month, also intends to begin with those aged 50 and over and immunocompromised individuals.

-Will the general public be included in the vaccination targets in the future?

▲The United States currently says it is not necessary but appears to be preparing for nationwide vaccination. The Washington Post reported, "The U.S. administration is analyzing research from Israel, the UK, and pharmaceutical companies," adding, "There is a growing conviction that more people will need to receive booster shots." Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), also stated on the 12th, "Not immediately, but at some point, everyone will need to get a booster shot."

-If I received the single-dose Janssen vaccine, am I eligible for a booster shot?

▲The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized booster shots on the 12th for high-risk groups who have completed two doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. However, regarding Janssen vaccine recipients, the FDA stated that "sufficient data has not been secured" and did not comment on the possibility of booster shots for them.

-Which countries have already started administering booster shots?

▲Israel, Russia, and Hungary have already begun vaccinations. The UK, Germany, and France are expected to start next month, and several other European countries such as Italy and Spain are likely to offer booster shots starting this fall. South Korea has secured 30 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine to be used as booster shots next year. Additionally, it has an option contract to purchase an additional 30 million doses if necessary.

-Why does the WHO oppose booster shots?

▲The WHO's stance is based on concerns about vaccine supply inequality. With severe disparities in supply between high-income and low-income countries, the WHO argues that countries that have not yet completed their first and second doses should be prioritized. According to the WHO, as of May, high-income countries had administered about 50 doses per 100 people, which has since doubled to nearly 100 doses per 100 people. In contrast, low-income countries have only been able to administer 1.5 doses per 100 people during the same period.