World-renowned scientists have stated that a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine is unnecessary at this point.



Scientists affiliated with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) published an expert review of this content in the British medical journal Lancet on the 13th local time, Bloomberg News and other foreign media reported.



They emphasized that "the evidence so far does not show that a booster shot to the general public is necessary" and that "a broad distribution of booster shots is not appropriate at this stage of the pandemic."



This claim was based on the fact that even after several months of vaccination, the effect of preventing severe COVID-19 infection is still strong.



When the scientists looked at data gathered from observational studies or clinical trials of actual vaccination, "None of them provided convincing evidence that protection against severe disease was significantly reduced."



They also warned that starting booster shots too soon could lead to rare side effects of the vaccine, such as myocarditis.



Therefore, they recommended that booster shot be vaccinated only in those who have a weak immune system and cannot generate a sufficient immune response with only two doses.



However, scientists from the FDA and WHO open the possibility that a booster shot to the general public may one day be needed if the vaccine-generated immunity weakens in the future or a stronger mutant virus develops.



However, they noted, "even if booster shots are ultimately shown to lower the medium-term risk of severe COVID-19, the current vaccine supply should be used first in the unvaccinated population to save more lives."



In this review, Marion Gruber, Head of FDA Vaccine Research Review, Philip Cross, Deputy Head of WHO, Sumya Swaminatan, WHO Chief Scientist, Mike Ryan, Head of WHO Emergency Response Team, Ana Maria Enao-Restrepo, WHO Vaccine Research and Development Officer, participated in this review.



While major advanced countries such as the United States are planning or starting booster shot vaccination, the debate over the need for booster shots is expected to heat up even more as top experts voice negative voices.



In particular, it is known that Gruber and Cross will resign within the year in protest against the Joe Biden administration's enforcement of the booster shot plan.



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