The creator of the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine told The Telegraph in an interview published Thursday that a booster shot may not be needed for most people.
Oxford University professor Sarah Gilbert said in the statement that she could see certain situations in which those who were older or immunocompromised could need a third shot of COVID-19, but stressed that “immunity persists well in most people. ”
“As the virus spreads among people, it mutates, adapts and evolves, like the delta variant. With these outbreaks, we want to stop it as soon as possible,” Gilbert told The Telegraph.
“We will see every situation; the immunocompromised and the elderly will receive booster. But I don’t think we need to empower everyone. Immunity lasts well in most people. “
According to the BBC, the Joint Vaccination and Vaccination Committee, the UK’s vaccine advisory committee, will soon announce whether COVID-19 reinforcement can be given to most Britons.
Those with a severely compromised immune system have already been given the green light to get a third shot of the vaccine, Reuters reported.
On Thursday, the UK medical regulator said the AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines could be used for COVID-19 booster shots.
The news comes when the United States also determines when and which people will be eligible for the COVID-19 booster shot. Last month, the Food and Drug Administration said some immunocompromised people could receive a third shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
Although the Biden administration announced last month that reinforcements would begin deploying to most Americans starting Sept. 20, health officials have sought a “pause” due to the lack of data.