Is a Fourth Dose of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Needed?

Two retrospective Israeli cohort studies suggest that, after a fourth dose of BNT162b2, participants aged ≥60 had reduced risk for infection and severe disease in the short term.

In the wake of the surging SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, a fourth dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) vaccine in those aged ≥60 was approved in Israel. Now, two retrospective cohort studies have evaluated its effectiveness at preventing COVID-19 outcomes. Using public health data from 1.2 million eligible adults, Bar-On et al. evaluated the incidence of severe COVID-19 (respiratory rate >30 breaths per minute, oxygen saturation <94%, or ratio of partial pressure of arterial oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen <300) in 623,000 persons who received a fourth dose (8–14 days previously) compared with three doses (629,000 recipients) and an internal control (days 3–7 after a fourth dose). From week 4 through week 6, adjusted rates of severe d…

Reviewing Author

Hana M. El Sahly, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health

Hana M. El Sahly, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health

Is a Fourth Dose of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Needed?

Topics

Reviewing Author