The World Health Organization’s regional office for Europe recommended on Tuesday that the elderly and vulnerable groups receive a second dose of an immunity booster against Covid, as HIV infections continue to rise on the continent.
On Monday, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Medicines Agency recommended that people over 60 receive a second booster dose.
For his part, the director of the European Health Organization, Hans Kluge, said in a statement: “The updated interim recommendations on the vaccination strategy come after a continued increase in infections in the European region.”
He added: Due to the increase in infections, the Health and Medical Organization supports “giving a second booster dose to people with moderate and severe immune problems, over five years old and their contacts.”
He also said member states should “consider giving a second booster dose to members of certain risk groups, including the elderly, healthcare providers and pregnant women.”
“Priority in the European region should remain for all those who are eligible to receive the recommended number of initial doses and the first booster dose,” Kellow stressed.
At the end of June, the World Health Organization expected the continent to record “high levels” of COVID-19 infections this summer due to the Omicron PA5 sub-mutation.
Infections decreased in the summer during 2020 and 2021, after outbreaks peaked in the winter.
According to the World Health Organization, infections in Europe have increased significantly since May.
During the last seven days, the WHO Regional Office for Europe has recorded 2,722,928 cases in 53 countries and regions, especially in Central Asia.
Source: Lebanon Debate
