Could we see yet another COVID booster shot?

Doctors say COVID booster shots weaken after four months. However, it is the best option to avoid hospitalization if you contract COVID-19.

The first report representing real-world data about durability and protection of the COVID-19 booster shot in  America was published by the CDC on Friday. After four months the COVID-19 booster’s effectiveness decreases. But it still provides significant protection, keeping people out of the hospital amid the omicron surge.

Robert Hawkes is the director of the physician assistant program at FGCU. Hawkes says that a decrease in booster effectiveness is expected since efficacy naturally declines over time.

So, will there be another booster? “It’s really going to be similar to probably the flu vaccine, that ultimately this will kind of be a yearly event. As the immunity wanes and as new variants will come about, the new vaccines or new boosters will be developed to give us that extra added protection,” said Hawkes.

According to the CDC, during the omicron variant, vaccine effectiveness against hospitalizations dropped from 71% in the two months after vaccination to 54% about five months after.

When the delta was the dominant strain, vaccine efficacy dropped from 96% to 76%.

Hawkes told WINK News that studies like this one are useful because it gives us the ability to look back and see what worked and what didn’t. “Really what it’s saying is the boosters are effective. While yes, they’re losing effectiveness, they are still very effective after that four-month period,” Hawkes said. “So, I think those are all very positive thing.”

“Any vaccine that again has 78% effectiveness in preventing hospitalizations is really doing its job,” said Hawkes.

Dr. John Edwards is the director of Mama’s Chiropractic Clinic in Cape Coral. “I think understanding the durability is very important. But the thing I would like to see more is understanding who really is at risk for getting COVID? And how do we protect them the best we can?” Edwards said.

Hawkes was able to tell us what we should focus on as these variants continue to evolve. “The important part is really trying to decrease the disease transmission,” said Hawkes.

“But also, more importantly, if someone’s sick, and ill, don’t go out, because that’s really what’s going to allow the virus to spreading and faster, just kind of some of the normal things we’ve been accustomed to over the past two years,” Hawkes said.

The CDC said the report is considered an early and limited look at the durability of booster protection during the omicron surge. THe variant exploded in December and January but has been declining in recent weeks.