Brussels: Head of the European Union Community Health Agency Andrea Amon said on Wednesday that the covid-19 vaccine amplifier must be considered for all adults, with priority for them over 40 years, in a major change in agency guidance.
Recommendations issued by the Central Translation and Disease Control Center (ECDC) do not bind the EU Government but are used to make health policy decisions.
“The booster dose must be considered for all adult individuals who prioritize people over the age of 40,” Amon said in a recorded statement, noting that the amplifier must be given at least six months after completing the main vaccine schedule.
In the previous guidelines issued in September with the European Medicine Agency (EMA), ECDC said there was no urgent need for the administration of a dose of booster for individuals who were fully vaccinated in the general population, but suggested that additional doses must be considered for people with the system weakened immunity and can be used as a precaution for older individuals.
“Available evidence arose from Israel and the UK showed a significant increase in protection against infection and severe disease after a dose of booster in all age groups in the short term,” ECDC said in a report published on Wednesday.
It is recommended to give a booster to all adults with priority “for those aged 40 years and over”.
Ammon said that booster would increase protection against infection caused by reduced immunity and “potentially reduced transmission in the population and preventing hospitalization and extra death”.
He suggested countries with a low level of vaccination to accelerate their launch and warn a high risk of further surge in death and hospitalization in Europe in December and January if the steps suggested were not introduced.
The European Commission is expected to take advice on Booster with consideration when proposing changes to the use of Covid-19 certificates this weekend, officials said.
Many EU countries have begun to provide a dose of booster to their population but use different criteria to choose groups that are prioritized and use different intervals between primary vaccination and amplifiers.
Austria, this week has reintroducing Lockdown in the middle of a case surge, has decided to give a booster after four months, while in the Italian additional doses can be given after five months.