WHO official in Europe says boosters not a ‘luxury’

A World Health Organization (WHO) official in Europe said on Monday that additional COVID-19 shots are not a “luxury,” but a method to keep vulnerable people safe.

Hans Kluge, WHO’s regional director of the Europe office, told a briefing that booster shots could “ultimately” be seen as an “important instrument” to protect vulnerable populations. But with a current lack of access to the vaccines in many countries, he continued to call on countries with excess doses to share with other nations. 

“A third dose of vaccine is not a luxury booster taken away from someone who is still waiting for a first jab. But it’s basically a way to keep the people safe – the most vulnerable,” Kluge said. “But at the same time, we need to share. We need to do it all.”

But Kluge urged caution, noting that there is not enough evidence yet to support additional doses. 

“We have to be a little bit careful because there is not yet enough evidence,” he said.

“There are more and more studies studying that a third dose … keeps vulnerable people safe like a number of countries more and more are doing in our region,” he added. “But at the same time, countries need as soon as possible to share their excess doses.”

The WHO official’s comments come as the debate over booster vaccine doses has ramped up, with the U.S. planning to make third doses available on Sept. 20.

President Biden’s chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that the U.S. is still planning on offering third doses eight months after a person’s second shot but said officials were “flexible” about the timeline.

The president said last week that his administration was discussing whether the additional shots should be given five months after a recipient’s second dose. 

Immunocompromised people were authorized to get a third dose in the U.S. earlier this month.

But WHO officials have countered calls for third doses, saying current evidence does not suggest they are necessary. Last week, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus requested countries implement a two-month moratorium on additional doses so low- and middle- income countries can have access to more doses.  

Vaccination rates have stalled in Europe in the past six weeks, Kluge said, citing the lack of access and acceptance in different countries. Just 6 percent of people in lower and lower-middle income countries have completed their vaccinations, he said. 

Although almost three-fourths of health workers in the region have been fully vaccinated, some countries have only given the full vaccine dosage to 1 in 10 health professionals, he said.

At the same time, Kluge said 33 countries have seen a 10 percent increase in COVID-19 cases over two weeks. 

“This high transmission is deeply worrying particularly in the light of low vaccination uptake in priority populations in a number of countries,” he said.