A Medscape survey has revealed that most doctors and nurses are favorably inclined towards a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The survey was conducted from August 4 to August 15.

When asked if they wanted to get a COVID-19 booster shot, 50% of the 732 doctors surveyed were ready to take the vaccine immediately, while 44% were willing to take the booster dose, but only when it was recommended by the regulatory authority. Only 3% were not in favor of a booster dose.

The survey also included around 1200 nurses; 38% of nurses wanted to take the booster dose immediately, but 50% wanted to wait till it was recommended, though they were in favor of a booster dose. And, 8% said no to a booster dose.

The survey also included physicians (20%) and nurses (26%) who are immunocompromised due to a disease condition or medication. The CDC has recommended a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for moderately to severely immunocompromised people. The eligibility criteria are:

• Active treatment for solid tumor and hematologic malignancies
• Receipt of solid-organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy
• Receipt of CAR-T-cell or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within 2 years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy)
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (i.e., ≥20mg prednisone or equivalent per day), alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, tumor-necrosis (TNF) blockers, and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory.

In July, Israel became the first country to offer a coronavirus booster dose  to its citizens aged 60 years and older who have already been fully vaccinated more than five months ago. Countries like UK, Germany have also given a green signal to the third dose to the eligible population.

However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries to temporarily desist from going ahead with the third dose for the fully vaccinated because of vaccine shortages in the developing countries. As per WHO estimates, only 10 countries have administered 75% of all vaccine supplies, while low-income countries have vaccinated only 2% of their population.

A third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is a much-debated topic, including in India, especially in view of the delta variant, which has become the dominant strain now, and the likelihood of more infectious variants emerging in the future.

India started its vaccination drive from 16^th January. We do not know for how long vaccine immunity lasts. Presently, India does not recommend a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Is the third dose necessary? What do you think? 

(Source: Healthcare workers eager for COVID booster shots - Medscape - Aug 20, 2021)