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.
  • Photo by Johaehn from Pixabay
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