Many countries are rolling out COVID-19 vaccine booster shots, but there is no consensus among scientists that they are necessary, and the world health organization wants the most vulnerable people worldwide to be fully vaccinated first.
North America – the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on September 24 backed a booster shot of the Pfizer and BioNtech vaccine for Americans aged 65 and older, some adults with underlying medical conditions and some adults in high-risk working and institutional settings. Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization is recommending booster shots of an authorized MRNA vaccine to those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.
Europe – the European Union’s drug regulator recommended on October 4 a third dose of Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna MRNA vaccines for those with a severely weakened immune system, but left it to member states to decide whether the wider population should get a booster.
- Austria; Czech Republic; Germany; Hungary; Italy (Pfizer or Moderna booster shots for all inoculated, and for all those who have received a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine; Malta (All Over-12s); Norway; Poland; Russia; Romania (only boosters from Pfizer or Moderna were approved); Serbia; Slovakia; Spain (Pfizer or Moderna booster shots for all inoculated with J&J)
- Belgium (MRNA); Bulgaria; Britain (plans to extend rollout to over-40s from over-50s); Denmark; Finland (may expand to other Finns later in the autumn); France (so far available only to over-65s, will be offered to over-50s from December); Ireland; Italy; Lithuania; Netherlands (Over-60s); Portugal; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden (larger population to get a jab in 2022); Switzerland (new recommendation for people under 65 expected in the next few weeks)
Africa
- Morocco, which has administered the most doses in Africa, started giving a third dose beginning in October. Tunisia (5 months after second dose)
- Nigeria is trying to secure booster shots, the head of the presidential steering committee on COVID-19 said on Nov 15.
Asia/Middle East
- Bahrain (Sputnik V, all over-18s at least six months after second dose); Cambodia (Astrazeneca); Indonesia (health workers only, wider population planned in 2022); Israel (all over-12s); South Korea (initial doses to high-risk groups or people with weakened immune systems); Turkey; Thailand (Astrazeneca or MRNA-type booster shots to people who were administered Sinovac brand); UAE (mandatory for people inoculated with Sinopharm vaccine).
- China; Hong Kong; Singapore
- Australia began administering Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots in November to fully vaccinated adults.
Latin & Central America
- Brazil; Uruguay (offers a Pfizer dose for those fully vaccinated with Sinovac)
- Ecuador, Panama
- Chile; Brazil; Dominican Republic, El Salvador (elderly, health workers, people with underlying health conditions)
