Covid-19 Booster Shots are Important
Cyprus International University (CIU) Faculty of Medicine and Chest Diseases Specialist Prof. Dr. Füsun Yıldız stated that Covid-19 cases have increased again all over the world and made some suggestions to those who have not yet been vaccinated or who have not yet had Covid-19 booster shot.
Prof. Dr. Yıldız advised that people who have never been vaccinated should have two doses of BioNTech, one month apart, and stated that they should continue the vaccination process with the booster shots.
Stating that it is important to continue vaccinating those whose primary vaccination scheme is unfinished for various reasons, Yıldız noted that it is recommended to administer the booster shots as early as 4 months after the completion of the primary scheme.
Yıldız reiterated that it is important for people vaccinated with two doses of BioNTech to get the booster shot 4 months after the second dose, and said, “It is recommended that people who have received three doses of Sinovac vaccine receive their booster shot (preferably BioNTech) as early as 3 months after the last dose.”
Yıldız advised that those who were administered 2 doses of Sinovac followed by a dose of BionTech, should get their second dose of BionTech in three months. Yıldız pointed out the significance of getting the booster shot 4 months after getting 2 doses of Sinovac and 2 doses of BionTech. The booster shot should not be skipped, especially for people over the age of 50, those with disease or drug-induced immune deficiency, those with a serious underlying disease (dialysis, heart failure, advanced heart failure and cirrhosis), and healthcare workers who are at the risk of encountering high levels of viruses.
Prof. Dr. Yıldız stated that the protection of the three-dose BioNTech vaccine against the development of infection and severe infection in high risk groups weakened within 2-5 months when Omicron virus was widespread. For this reason, she advised the fourth dose of vaccine (second booster shot) should be administered to chronic patients over 60 years of age, who are in the risk group, and to people with immune deficiency. She also said that three doses of Covid-19 injection could be enough for the young, for individuals with non-chronic diseases who do not have a condition that affects their immune system.
Dr. Yıldız stated that it is important to get the Covid-19 vaccines, but added it is also important to pay attention to the use of masks in public areas and not just rely on vaccines. She concluded by saying, "the implementation of non-vaccine measures will be the most effective measure in reducing hospitalizations and number of deaths during the recent Omicron wave we have been exposed to."