EXPECT A COVID-19 BOOSTER SHOT EVERY YEAR IN SOUTH AFRICA
The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) has said that it is highly likely that Covid-19 vaccinations will need to be administered yearly in the form of a booster shot.
This is the result of the evolution of more Covid-19 strains that diminish antibody reactions to vaccines, combined with the fact that the antibodies deteriorate over time.
According to Scheepers, most vaccines on the market were developed from the original strain, and new variants have evolved to be more efficient in terms of infection and evading the immune system.
Like the flu shot, these vaccines will need to be modified to match variants in circulation at the time, meaning at some point, we will need these modified vaccines administered in the form of booster shots.