Booster Shots Here; Additional Annual Boosters May Be Needed
Last week Cabinet approved the administering of a third shot of COVID-19 vaccine, known as a booster shot, for persons who have already taken two doses of vaccine. As science reveals, the antibodies produced by the vaccine decreases over a period of time. A third shot is recommended as the adequate response to that reduction. But, does protection end at a third shot? Internist Dr. Fernando Cuellar told us via zoom that studies suggest extended protection may require annual shots throughout an individual’s lifetime.
Dr. Fernando Cuellar, Internist, BMA
“It is not a doing of us in Belize. We follow international science, international recommendation. And, we now know that for a couple of months we have been hearing about boosters. And, now it has come to us and us as a country, as a medical community is now recommending we get a booster shot. The reason being, the studies show the anti-bodies that now develop, the anti-bodies, the little fighting soldiers, over time the numbers decrease. So, you become more vulnerable, you become less protected. So, you need to boost it up, you need to juice it up again so to speak, so that your anti bodies come up to level again, and that generally speaking is after six months of your second vaccination shot. Definitely, this is looking like every year we will have to go and take shots. Just like how we have the flu vaccine, pretty much thinking, I am of the opinion that every year we will have to do a Corona virus shot to help us be immune against the virus.”
Paul Lopez
“So, you are basically saying this is just a third shot, but there may be a need for a fourth, fifth, sixth and who knows how many shots?”
Dr. Fernando Cuellar
“Exactly, and I think it is best for us to start mentioning this so as to avoid the questioning when it comes up, “But I mih think yo say you only need two or three.” But, the science I pointing towards more than likely we will be doing yearly vaccines so that we can be protected.”
Paul Lopez
“How do you separate what the science is saying about antibodies decreasing, from the criticism that the vaccine is not as effective as science once thought it to be? It plays into the hands of those who criticize the vaccine as being an experimental shot.”
Dr. Fernando Cuellar
“Well, I accept the criticism and I think it is a valid criticism. It makes sense that we are telling people to get the vaccine. I don’t think though, that at any point we were telling people this is the silver bullet, this is the one fix it all. It is not experimental nuh? It’s just the reality that vaccines are given and we need boosters. We need boosters for a lot of other vaccines.”
