According to UK specialists, a fourth COVID vaccine is not yet required because booster doses continue to provide significant protection against serious disease caused by the Omicron strain in older people.
According to data from the UK Health Security Agency, three months following the rise, protection against hospitalisation remained at around 90% for people aged 65 and up.
The protection provided against a mild clinical infection is more transient.
By three months, the percentage had dropped to around 30%. Figures also show why you should have a booster dose if you’ve only had two doses so far.
Protection against severe diseases reduces to roughly 70% after three months and 50% after six months with just two vaccination doses.
The priority, according to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI), which advice on vaccination policy, is to get the first, second, and third doses to people who have not yet received them.
Over 35 million boosters and third doses have already been given out across the United Kingdom.
If the evidence showed a decline in immunity against serious disease in the elderly, Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy head of the JCVI, said quick action would be required.
Meanwhile, to be properly vaccinated, highly vulnerable people with compromised immune systems are still advised to have four doses rather than the normal three.
Even though immunizations are effective, large numbers of infections indicate that some people may become ill and require hospitalisation.
In this Omicron wave, Health Secretary Sajid Javid expressed alarm over increased COVID hospital admissions, particularly among older age groups.
Along with increased hospitalizations, COVID-related employee absences have climbed rapidly in England, with the number of workers absent for COVID reasons trebling since the beginning of December, according to the latest numbers.
During the week ending January 2nd, approximately 36,000 healthcare personnel in England were off for COVID reasons.
When other sickness absences are factored in, the total falls to 9%, which is about double the rate typical at this time of year.
