The Regional Office for Europe at the World Health Organization recommended on Tuesday that the elderly and the most vulnerable should receive a second dose of an immune booster against Covid, with the increase in HIV infections on the continent.
On Monday, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Medicines Agency recommended that people over the age of sixty receive a second booster dose.
For his part, Director of the Health Organization in Europe, Hans Kluge, said in a statement that “the updated interim recommendations on the vaccination strategy come after the continued rise in infections in the European region.”
From 5 years old
He added that due to the increase in infections, the health authority supports “giving a second booster dose to individuals with moderate and severe immune problems, aged five years and over, and their contacts.”
He also said that Member States should “consider giving the second booster dose to members of specific risk groups, including the elderly, health care providers and pregnant women.”
Kloh stressed that “priority in the European region should remain for everyone who is entitled to receive the recommended number of initial doses and the first booster dose.”
high levels
At the end of June, the WHO expected the continent to record “high levels” of COVID-19 infections in the summer due to the Omicron PA5 sub-mutant.
Infections decreased in the summer during 2020 and 2021, after the outbreak reached its peak in the winter.
According to the World Health Organization, infections in Europe have increased significantly since May.
During the last seven days, the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organization recorded 2,722,928 injuries in 53 countries and regions, especially in Central Asia.