Fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose provides strong immunity boost: UK study
- United Kingdom
Fourth doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been offered as a spring booster for those most vulnerable in the UK, the researchers said.
This has been a precautionary strategy to maintain high levels of immunity before the study data is available, they said.
They are also effective at increasing both antibody and cellular immunity up to and above baseline and peak levels observed following third dose boosters, according to the researchers.
''These results underline the benefits of the most vulnerable people receiving current spring boosters and give confidence for any prospective autumn booster program in the UK if the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation considers it needed at that time,'' said Professor Saul Faust, trial lead and Director of the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility.
In the study, 166 people who had received the third dose of Pfizer, following Pfizer or AstraZeneca initial doses in June 2021, were randomized to receive full dose Pfizer or half dose Moderna as a fourth dose.
The fourth dose was administered approximately seven months after the third dose.
While pain at the vaccination site and fatigue were the most common side effects, there were no vaccine-related serious adverse events and fourth doses were safe and well-tolerated, the researchers said.
''These new study findings support that decision and provide the public with the confidence that fourth doses are both safe and even more effective than third doses at boosting immunity against COVID-19,'' Ustianowski said.
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