Covid vaccine booster doses only needed for high-risk groups, WHO says

The World Health Organization’s Covid vaccine booster advice is largely in line with recommendations already in place in Australia, which prioritises doses for high-risk groups. Photograph: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

Only high-risk groups should receive ongoing Covid-19 booster doses because strong population-level immunity means ongoing boosting of the general population offers little impact, the latest update from the World Health Organization (WHO) says.

The vaccination guide, from WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation, says each country needs to take into account its own epidemiological situation, stressing that its recommendations are for short-to-medium term planning and subject to change.