As the Omicron version of COVID-19 sweeps the country and coronavirus cases in general continue to rise this holiday season, some countries have already started a fourth dose of a vaccine for their most vulnerable residents. Done.
According to CNN, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced this month that adults age 60 and older, immunologists and health care workers can receive a fourth dose, if at least four since their third dose. It’s been months.
Germany’s Health Minister Karl Lauterbach also recently announced that a fourth dose may be necessary to stop the rapidly spreading Omicron variant.
But what about those in America? Should you get a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine even though the Omicron variant called the “worry version” is spreading rapidly? Here’s what the experts have to say.
Public health experts in the US have mixed feelings about the fourth dose of the vaccine.
Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in a recent interview that “it is too early to talk about a fourth dose.”
“I think it’s too early to talk about a fourth dose,” Fauci told WCBS NewsRadio 880’s Michael Wallace and Steve Scott.
Meanwhile, Pfizer CEO Albert Boerla told CNBC earlier this month that while we should be taking a wait-and-see approach on the third dose and how it deals with the Omicron version, he believes we should be against it. A fourth dose would be required for optimal protection. Coronavirus and its variants in its current mutation.
“When we look at the real-world data, that will determine whether Omicron is well covered by the third dose,” Borla told CNBC.
“And the second point, I think we’re going to need a fourth dose,” Bourla said.
So, if you’re thinking about getting a third or booster dose of the vaccine, it’s a good idea. But according to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it may be a good idea to wait before receiving that fourth dose, unless you are 18 years of age or older and have a weakened immune system. .
Related stories about COVID-19:
How to Get a COVID Booster Shot at CVS, Walgreens or Rite Aid
Are my symptoms the omicron type of COVID or a cold?
Omicron Types of Symptoms to Look for If You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated
Omicron Edition: By far the most common symptoms, according to the CDC
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