WHO and SAGE update Covid-19 vaccine guidance

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently revised its vaccine guidance after meeting with its Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE).

SAGE no longer recommends annual Covid-19 vaccine boosters for healthy adults under 60 after they have received both a primary vaccine series and booster.

Additionally, it does not recommend vaccinating healthy children aged six months and 17 years against Covid-19 at all. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other national health agencies issuing similar updates.

These updates mean the future of Covid-19 vaccine rollouts is highly uncertain, according to data and analytics company Global Data.

Nancy Jaser, Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, said: “Significant drops in global demand and revenue for Covid-19 vaccines are expected in the coming years, as the threat of the pandemic winds down and vaccination guidance by health authorities loosens.

“The massive outbreaks caused by the Omicron variant led to the currently high levels of immunity observed in all age groups through both vaccination efforts and infections across the globe.

“Combined with recent guidance calling for decreased use of boosters and the US Senate's decision to end the national emergency declaration early, Covid-19 revenue streams may fade quickly for vaccine developers.”

More countries have been removing their Covid-19 restrictions after three years, with Turks and Caicos allowing unvaccinated tourists to visit.