Infectious disease experts aren’t all on the same page on covid-19 booster dose
Ottawa: Western University has made a booster dose mandatory for its staff and students, but not all infectious disease specialists agree with the benefits of this dose. The university says that taking the booster dose will reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19 on the campus this year.
McMaster University’s Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Martha Fulford says she understands the overall medical significance of the vaccine but does not agree with making booster shots mandatory for public health.
She also said that the decision on whether a booster shot should be done or not should be a personal matter of every person. “It has become clear that Covid vaccines do not prevent it from spreading further,” he said, referring to the spread of omicron and sub-variants. He said that making booster shots mandatory for the welfare of public health does not do anything wrong.
She further said that booster shots can be beneficial for the elderly, immunocompromised persons, but there is no need for such a booster dose for young people who have already taken two doses or who have recovered from Covid-19.
On the other hand, Karina Top, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Community Health and Epidemiology at Dalhousie University, said that she supports these booster doses. Florentine, provost and vice president of Western, said his university’s decision to administer the booster dose of the vaccine to staff and children this year was taken after much deliberation and in line with expert opinion.
