With the arrival of omicron, doctors again began to actively talk about the need for revaccination – a “boosting” (booster) vaccination is needed to spur the immune system to actively produce antibodies to coronavirus again, to strengthen protection against both the delta strain and omicron. While virologists are figuring out how dangerous the new version of SARS-CoV-2 that has flown in from Africa is, infectious disease specialists insist: it is better not to wait and “get ready”. To whom, when and with what vaccine? Experts from “RG” -Weeks dealt with this.
When to get a booster shot?
Each person’s immune response to COVID-19 vaccination is different. On average, as shown by the observation of vaccinated and recovered, the period of antibody protection after vaccination or postponed COVID-19 is six months, then the level of antibodies begins to decline, – explained the head of the Gamaleya Center Alexander Gintsburg. Therefore, with the advent of new variants of the virus – “delta”, and now “omicron” – it is better to maintain a high level of antibodies.
Of course, there is also a second echelon of protection – long-term T-cell immunity, the so-called “memory cells”. That is why it is enough to get vaccinated against some infections (for example, measles) once in childhood – and immunity is preserved for life. This does not work with the coronavirus: it is infected twice and three times. Although long-term immunity can reduce the consequences of a repeated attack of the virus: most vaccinated people do not get seriously ill (although there are exceptions).
While the epidemic continues, the recommendations of the Russian Ministry of Health are as follows: booster vaccination should be given six months after primary vaccination. Earlier, by the way, it will not work – the registration system does not allow it, “throwing out” the data when you try to enter it. Therefore, there is no need to rush – so that later there will be no difficulties with the certificate.
In the future, when the epidemiological situation finally returns to normal, it will be necessary to be vaccinated against COVID-19 once a year (just like against the flu), explained Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko.
How will the new QR code work?
Last week, a decision was made that equalized the duration of the validity of the QR code of the vaccinated and those who had been ill: now it is valid for both those and others for a year. So there is some discrepancy in the recommendations: the second vaccination is six months after the first, although the QR will be valid for a whole year. It turns out that the booster is carried out exclusively at the request of the person, there are no levers of pressure here.
At the same time, as explained to “RG” – Week in the Ministry of Health, after revaccination, the old QR code is automatically replaced with a new current one. Also valid for one year.
Who needs to do it?
In Russia, all adults undergo revaccination, with the exception of those who have a withdrawal from vaccination. In other countries, the situation is different. For example, in Israel, a general revaccination was announced back in September, canceling the green passes received after the first vaccination. In most countries, including the US and the EU, until recently, it was recommended to revaccinate people from risk groups – the elderly, chronic patients with a threat of severe COVID-19, and doctors. But with the arrival of the omicron, the situation changed: on December 2, US President Joe Biden announced a new plan to combat the pandemic, including “expanding American access to booster vaccines.” The EU also announced the need to make a booster six months after the primary vaccination.
Experts hope that revaccination will protect against both “delta” and “omicron”
And in Britain, a decision has already been made to conduct a booster in general three months after the previous vaccination.
As for our country, the “backlash” in six months between the recommended duration of the booster vaccination and the validity period of the QR code received after the primary vaccination allows a person to decide for himself exactly when to give a “boosting” injection. Moreover, many people have been ill with COVID-19 asymptomatically or easily, without going to doctors. They are not in the federal register, and they must regulate their situation themselves. Some experts, for example, Vitaly Zverev, scientific director of the Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Serums, believe that if a person has a high antibody titer, he should postpone revaccination.
What kind of vaccine to make a booster?
In Rospotrebnadzor “RG” – Nedelya reported that revaccinated “can be any vaccine registered in Russia.” Most often, people vaccinated with Sputnik V are offered Sputnik Lite (in fact, this is the first component of a complete Sputnik). Alexander Gintsburg has more than once presented evidence that this option is effective. And RDIF recently announced that Sputnik Light has been registered for use as a booster in several countries, including the UAE, after all types of vaccines.
Thus, the combinations of vaccines can be very different. Recently, Rospotrebnadzor reported that another batch of EpiVacCorona was sent to the regions – in the amount of 1.2 million doses. So in many cases there will be a choice for revaccination.
According to Vitaly Zverev, it is better to choose a different type of vaccine for the revaccination, which was the primary vaccination. Why is this so, “RG” – the infectious disease doctor, head of the medical laboratory “Invitro-Siberia” Andrei Pozdnyakov explained to the Week. “When you are vaccinated with one vaccine and revaccinated with another, you get different antigens, the immune system trains on such a variety, and as a result, you get a more versatile and possibly stronger immune response,” Pozdnyakov believes. “There are enough publications that it is good to be vaccinated and revaccinated. using different types of vaccines. Although, of course, it is acceptable and one type, and no problem. “
Do I need to measure antibodies before booster vaccination?
The Ministry of Health says that there is no need to measure antibodies. Nevertheless, some experts believe that if their level remains high (several times higher than the reference value, which is indicated in the test results), you can wait with the vaccine. Sometimes it is recommended to take a PCR test before vaccination – to make sure that a person does not fall into the latent period of infection.
Gunzburg believes that if a person has a high level of antibodies during revaccination, there is nothing wrong with that. Konstantin Chumakov, director of the center of the Global Virological Network, WHO adviser, agrees with this. “It will not hurt to get vaccinated once again, without taking into account the level of antibodies, because this will increase the number of antibodies and their quality. That is, antibodies will be able to protect not only against the strain on which the vaccine is made, but also against all other variants, immunity becomes broader. This is the main advantage of revaccination, this booster dose, “- Chumakov explained in an interview. “In general, my advice, if you are afraid for your health, if you are an elderly person, if you have any problems with immunity, do not refuse revaccination, it will not get worse,” Chumakov concluded. they fell low, then this is an alarming signal and it is worth hurrying up and getting vaccinated again. If your antibodies are at a good level, then there is no rush. “
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