WHO sees need for ‘second generation’ COVID-19 vaccines

By: Cathrine Gonzales - 3 years ago

FILE PHOTO: A logo is pictured outside a building of the World Health Organization (WHO) during an executive board meeting on update on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Geneva, Switzerland, April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

MANILA, Philippines — The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeing a need for “second generation” COVID-19 vaccines that would prevent breakthrough infections or coronavirus infections among the fully vaccinated.

WHO country representative Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe made the remark in a media briefing on Tuesday when asked if health workers and vulnerable sectors will need booster shots against the virus.

“The fundamental issue is that with the Delta variant, we’ve seen lower efficacy across all vaccine brands. We’ve seen breakthrough infections across all vaccine brands, and so an additional dose, is that going to prevent breakthrough infections? We have not seen any evidence,” he said.

“So if we want to prevent breakthrough infections, if we want to further protect the elderly and co-morbid population, we may need a second-generation vaccine,” the WHO official added.

Abeyasinghe said breakthrough infections are not surprising, noting that COVID-19 vaccines offer protection against the severe form of the disease that could lead to death.

The Department of Health (DOH) earlier said local experts do not recommend booster doses, considering the limited study and vaccine supply.

Abeyasinghe echoed this stance. He said that WHO is likewise urging countries to hold back on administering booster jabs.

“If we agree to that [administering booster dose] without evidence, we are actually putting [people who have not even had a single dose at risk],” he said.

“That is why we are calling for countries to hold back till there is good evidence that a booster dose will add benefits, and once we have that, [we can decide what the most appropriate time for a booster dose is], what should be that booster dose, and what combination is safe,” he said.

He noted that there is not much information yet on booster doses.

“When do you get the highest boost of immune levels? When do you combine which vaccines? We don’t have any of that information now. Let us wait, and in the interim, let us try to vaccinate as many of the unprotected, vulnerable people as we can,” he stressed.