COVID Vaccine Creator Says Mass Boosters May Be Unecessary

Booster shots to extend the protection of COVID-19 vaccines may be unnecessary for many people, a leading scientist behind the AstraZeneca vaccine said on Friday.

Oxford University Professor Sarah Gilbert told The Telegraph newspaper that immunity from the vaccine was holding up well – even against the delta variant. While the elderly and those who are immune-compromised may need boosters, the standard two-dose regimen is providing lasting protection for most people, she said.

"We will look at each situation; the immuno-compromised and elderly will receive boosters,'' she said. "But I don't think we need to boost everybody. Immunity is lasting well in the majority of people."

The comments come as the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization, a panel of experts that advises the British government, is expected to make recommendations in the coming days on the scale of any booster program. Britain's medical regulator on Thursday said the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines were safe to use as boosters.

U.K. Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said he expects a booster program to start later this month.

Gilbert said the world's priority should be to get more vaccines to countries that have received limited supplies.

"We need to get vaccines to countries where few of the population have been vaccinated so far,'' Gilbert said. "We have to do better in this regard. The first dose has the most impact."

This story is part of our special report: "COVID-19 And You". Want to read more? Here's the full list.