The FDA is expected to give its authorization for a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose for Americans 50 and older as early as Tuesday.
“I think my initial reaction to a fourth shot was, I haven’t seen the data to really support it for general use,” said Dr. Anna Wald, head of the Allergy and Infectious Disease Division and University of Washington School of Medicine.
Dr. Wald echoed the sentiments of many in the medical community, saying until more research became available, the focus should remain on Americans who have yet to start their vaccine series, or receive a first booster. “There’s some emerging data that provides additional protection against hospitalization but it’s really very marginal, so I’m not sure that [a fourth dose] is going to make a big difference in our fight against this pandemic,” Dr. Wald said.
“I’m sure another dose will boost antibodies and will provide some marginal benefit. I just don’t know that it’s enough to roll out another dose to most of the population at this time,” Dr. Wald continued. Dr. Wald said the best way to get that data is for more people to take part in clinical trials. UW Medicine shared
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