PAHO on Booster Shots

Today the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) released new information about vaccine safety and efficacy. Dr. Alba Maria Ropero shared that there’s also a new recommendation for booster shots for people with immune-compromised systems.

Dr. Alba Ropero

Dr. Alba Ropero, Reg. Advisor on Immunization, PAHO

“The strategic advisory group from WHO reviewed the recommendations, based on new evidence, in order to see what is the situation with specific groups, such as the immune-compromised people or the elderly. And then, there was a recommendation that immune-compromised people, that is people with active cancer, organ transplant, immune-deficiency, people with HIV, they need an additional dose in order to boost their response to improve their protection. That means that they will need from now on, three doses. People with immune-compromised conditions – they need three doses. The other recommendation was for the elderly, people who have been vaccinated with (inaudible) vaccines such as Sinovac and Sinopharm, the evidence shows that there is a decline in the protection in the elderly, if you compare the vaccinations in the elderly versus younger adults, the protection is lower. With the idea to improve their response, to improve their antibodies, they have to receive another one.”