COVID-19 booster shots too soon for general population, argues doctor

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Questions surrounding a possible third COVID-19 vaccine in B.C. are being raised, after both Ontario and the U.S. announced it would allow some people a chance to get an additional shot for health reasons.

Earlier this week, Ontario became the first Canadian province to approve a third dose for vulnerable people, following concerns of the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant.

The U.S. will also be giving a booster to those who qualify, which could begin as early as next month, after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorizations.

While only those who are immunocompromised qualify for the third shot, one Canadian doctor believes it’s too soon for the general population.

"You look at the data from Israel & some of the emerging data from the U.S…it's not entirely compelling that you need to [give boosters] to the entire population." — @BogochIsaac tells me, saying he believes most of us will need COVID-19 boosters eventually, but not yet.

— Martin MacMahon (@martinmacmahon) August 18, 2021

Dr. Isaac Bogoch, with the University of Toronto, says the evidence is not there right now to prove the need for everyone to be triple vaccinated, but feels there is evidence that vulnerable people should.

And while he does believe we will eventually need a booster, he says the science isn’t out there that most of us would need one anytime soon.

“In patients who have cancer or on various chemotherapies, or organ transplant patients for example, there is also probably a need in patients in long-term care,” Bogoch said.

Related Articles: 

• US health officials call for booster shots against COVID-19

• Despite COVID concerns, expert says schools across Canada should go ahead with precautions

• Saskatchewan offers extra COVID-19 dose to vaccinated residents who want to travel

“When we look at the medical need for boosters I think it’s pretty clear that there are certain groups or certain individuals that would better benefit from this. Those are typically people who are not going to amount the same immune response to the two doses of the vaccine. Those would be people who have compromised conditions,” he explained.

He says while some may benefit, the average person should wait until drugmakers have come up with boosters specifically designed to neutralize COVID-19 variants.

“When you look at the data from Israel and some of the emerging data from the United States… it’s not particularly compelling that you do need to vaccinate an entire population. I do think we will need boosters, just not right this second,” he said.

B.C.’s top doctor has said there is no medical need for a third dose at this time.

On Tuesday, Saskatchewan approved a third dose for international travel purposes. People who received a combination of Oxford-AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Moderna can receive a third dose to match their last vaccine as long as the second dose was Pfizer or Moderna.

Currently, the AstraZeneca vaccine is not recognized in the U.S. to support international travel requirements, but the Canadian government has vowed it is working on a solution to the issue.