By now, we’ve all learned that the omicron variant has infected fully-vaccinated and even boosted individuals. We’ve also learned that though vaccine efficacy wanes over time, booster shots increase the levels of antibodies.
For some time, I’ve been wondering when/if the government would consider shortening the interval between second shot (or initial shot of J&J) and booster shot. I’ve just learned that several countries and provinces are doing just that.
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada:
The province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health is providing insight into the decision to change the interval between an individual’s second dose of COVID-19 vaccine and the booster shot.
On Friday the province announced that the number of weeks between the second COVID vaccine and the booster shot has been shortened to 22.
While some other provinces, such as Saskatchewan, have an interval as short as three months, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says the 22 weeks offers better protection.
New Zealand:
Cabinet has agreed to reduce the interval between the second Pfizer dose and booster shot from six to four months, and there will be a delay in the start of the self-isolation scheme for Australian arrivals, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has announced.
[…] The advice to government from the technical advisory group was that this step was appropriate, pragmatic and in line with other countries. It has recommended the booster be given to adults aged 18 years or over.
Ireland is reducing the interval for those who’ve been infected:
People recovering from Covid-19 will no longer have to wait 6 months for a booster vaccine - that waiting time is being reduced to 3 months.
That's according to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, who says the recommendation from NIAC is that the interval between the first two doses and a booster dose for those infected with the virus should be reduced to 3 months, and this has been accepted by Government.
The Philippines:
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III announced that the interval for the administration of booster doses shall be shortened, following the approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The shortened interval shall be effective on December 22.
Under this new policy, boosters may already be given to adults at least three months after the second dose of a primary two-dose vaccine, or at least two months after the primary single-dose vaccine is given.
Germany:
Germany's Permanent Vaccination Commission, or STIKO, has cut the recommended period between receiving a second COVID-19 shot and a booster from six to three months.
The vaccine authority said that anyone over the age of 18 should now have a booster of an mRNA vaccine three months after completing the first two doses.
Israel is adding a fourth dose in addition to shortening the interval between second and third shots:
Israel will begin rolling out a fourth dose of the coronavirus vaccine with immediate effect. The additional dose will be given to people over 60 years-old, medical workers, and people with a suppressed immune system, the prime minister’s office announced, following a recommendation from the country’s panel of coronavirus experts.
[…] Those eligible for the fourth dose will be given it provided at least four months have passed since their third dose.
[…] In a related announcement, the recommended gap between a second and third dose is also being shortened from five months to three months.
Others — thanks to Reuters for compiling:
Many countries, including the United States, earlier this year authorized booster doses at six months after a person completes vaccination. This month, South Korea, the United Kingdom and Thailand cut that interval to three months. Belgium has lowered it to four months.
France, Singapore, Taiwan, Italy and Australia have decreased their booster wait time to five months.
[…] Finland has recommended a three-month booster timeline for at-risk groups, saying it does not believe shortening the time for the general population will slow rising hospitalizations.
I haven’t heard about anyone in the U.S. recommending shortening the interval. I understand that many successive changes start to look like science is capricious, especially with such fierce anti-science sentiment, but with a new disease like COVID that mutates and spreads rapidly, sticking with an existing protocol in order to maintain consistency could literally cost lives.