New study shows need for Covid booster jabs for kids

As a new study shows just how soon Covid vaccination effectiveness begins to wane in teens, a Queensland pandemic expert says it’s only a matter of time before children need boosters.

Children will need Covid-19 vaccine boosters as it becomes clear the virus has not yet gone away, Queensland pandemic experts warn.

“It is inevitable that further protection will be required but the actual timing of that is still being reviewed,” Associate Professor Paul Griffin told The Courier-Mail.

The warning comes as new international research published on Thursday shows the effectiveness of the Pfizer jab in teens wanes after a month but it continues to protect against severe disease.

Scientists from South Korea looked at data for more than three million teens and found two doses of Pfizer were 75.5 per cent effective in preventing infection in people aged 18; 80.4 per cent effective among those aged 16-17; and 79.2 per cent effective among those aged 12 to 15, shortly after their second dose. But just four weeks later the effectiveness in preventing infection had waned.

The researchers concluded that the teens needed boosters.

“Our findings suggest that two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine may be sufficient for protection against critical SARS-CoV-2 infection among adolescents, albeit with waning immunity. Furthermore, booster vaccinations may be required for continued protection among adolescents,” the study concluded.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) currently believes there is insufficient evidence that a first booster of the vaccine is needed in young people aged 12 to 15. ATAGI recommends a booster for those who are severely immunocompromised in this age group.

The body has reported they are constantly reviewing this stance.

The international study is published in the peer reviewed Journal of the American Medical Association.

“It’s never a good idea to make decisions based on one study. But realistically, it will likely happen that all children will be encouraged to be boostered,” Assoc Prof Griffin said.

In Queensland anyone eligible to be vaccinated can receive their first booster shot if it has been at least three months since their second Covid-19 vaccine.

A second booster or fourth dose can be given to those aged over 30 or at risk of severe disease at least three months since the first booster.

The latest Queensland data shows 3232 new cases of Covid were confirmed in the last 24 hours with 487 in hospital and 23 in intensive care.