Second COVID-19 vaccine booster ‘saves elderly lives’
Researchers estimate premature deaths are cut by about 40% for those in aged care, although protection wanes after two months
A second COVID-19 booster appears to cut the risk of premature death from all causes in people living in aged care and those older than 80 generally, researchers say.
A Swedish team says their finding is relevant to the Omicron era but warn timely inoculation is important as protection from the second booster wanes after two months.
Their nationwide retrospective study showed that, compared with a third dose of mRNA vaccine, a fourth dose cuts the short-term risk of death by 40% in aged care residents and by more than 70% among the “oldest old” living at home.
The study — one of the few to examine mortality after booster vaccination in these vulnerable populations — involved two population-based cohorts.
