Booster shots prevent severe illness in the immunocompromised

A Nordic study led by the Statens Serum Institut (SSI) shows that a booster vaccination against COVID-19 provides significant health benefits to immunocompromised individuals. This group includes cancer patients, organ transplant recipients, those with congenital immune deficiencies, and patients with rheumatological or inflammatory diseases. The booster targeting Omicron subvariants BA.1 and BA.4-5 has prevented many severe cases of illness. In Autumn 2022, immunocompromised persons in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden were prioritized for booster shots with updated vaccines protecting against the original strain and the Omicron variant. The study, directed by Professor and Department Chief Anders Hviid, indicates a risk reduction of 34 to 43 percent for hospitalization and 54 to 58 percent for mortality from COVID-19 among those vaccinated with two booster shots compared to those who declined an additional dose. Across a season, the BA.4-5 booster is estimated to have prevented 224 hospitalizations and 139 deaths per 100,000 vaccinated.