European Official Says COVID-19 Booster Uptake Disappointing In The Region

Marco Cavaleri, the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) head of health threats and vaccines strategy, said the recent uptake of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses in the region has been "rather disappointing."
The European average rate of receiving booster doses was only 29% in the groups considered to be at the highest risk.
Though there have not been major increases in COVID-19 case rates in recent weeks, Cavaleri said that could change during the colder winter months, Reuters writes.
Related: Don't Use These 5 Non-Cost Effective COVID Treatments Including Antivirals From Merck and Gilead, Britain's NICE Says.
World Health Organization data showed 724,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the EU over the past week, down 11% from the previous week.
When experts warned of a new COVID-19 wave in early October, weekly cases reached 1.5 million.
Cavaleri added that available antibody treatments are no longer working against new subvariants.
The EMA intends to issue new guidelines for healthcare providers on the issue of such treatments, he said.
At a December meeting with the FDA and other international experts, the EU regulator would discuss this issue, including clinical trial design of next-generation treatments.
Pfizer Inc's PFE has shown effectiveness against all COVID-19 variants and subvariants. But prompt access to Paxlovid remains an issue in the EU.
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