Official: EU backs second COVID-19 booster for over-60s

A picture taken on June 16, 2021 in Brussels shows a passeport behind a mobile phone whose screen bears a EU Digital COVID-19 certificate. (KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP)

BRUSSELS/LONDON – European Union health agencies on Monday recommended a second COVID-19 booster for everyone over 60, as well as medically vulnerable people, amid a new rise in infections and hospitalisations across Europe.

While existing coronavirus vaccines continue to provide good protection against hospital admissions and death, vaccine effectiveness has taken a hit as the virus has evolved.

While existing coronavirus vaccines continue to provide good protection against hospital admissions and death, vaccine effectiveness has taken a hit as the virus has evolved

EU health agencies have since April recommended a second booster only for those older than 80 and the most vulnerable.

The new recommendation is expected to facilitate national decisions to speed up vaccination campaigns, which have been slowing to nearly a halt in recent months.

"We are currently seeing increasing COVID-19 case notification rates and an increasing trend in hospital and ICU admissions and occupancy in several countries mainly driven by the BA 5 sublineage of (the) Omicron (coronavirus variant)," said Andrea Ammon, the director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, in a statement.

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"This signals the start of a new, widespread COVID-19 wave across the European Union," she said, adding that giving the over 60s and medically vulnerable a second booster now would avert a significant number of hospitalisations and deaths.

Vaccine makers, such as Moderna Inc  and partners Pfizer Inc and BioNTech , have been testing versions of their COVID-19 vaccines modified to combat the BA.1 Omicron variant.

Although they have said those vaccines generated a good immune response against BA.1 and the more recently circulating variants, they did see a lower response against BA.4 and BA.5.

The European Medicines Agency, which is currently reviewing two variant-adapted vaccines, expects to have the first next-generation vaccines approved by September.

"In the meantime, it is important to consider using currently authorised vaccines as second boosters in people who are most vulnerable," said EMA executive director Emir Cooke.

There is no clear evidence to support giving a second booster dose to people below 60 years of age who are not at higher risk of severe disease, the ECDC added on Monday.

US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks during the primary election night party for New York Governor in New York city on June 28, 2022. (YUKI IWAMURA / AFP)

US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the most senior Democrat in the chamber, has tested positive for the coronavirus and has very mild symptoms, a spokesperson said on Sunday.

"The Leader is fully vaccinated and double boosted, and has very mild symptoms," the statement said. "Consistent with the CDC guidance, Leader Schumer will quarantine this week and work remotely."

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The Senate, which is split evenly between the Democrats and Republicans with the Vice-President casting a tie-breaking vote when needed, is due to return on Monday following a two-week recess.

"Even if he's not physically in the Capitol, through virtual meetings and his trademark flip phone he will continue with his robust schedule and remain in near constant contact with his colleagues," the statement said.