German vaccine panel backs 2nd booster for high-risk groups

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s independent vaccination advisory panel says it is recommending a second vaccine booster shot for people aged 70 and above, among others particularly at risk from COVID-19. In a draft recommendation, the panel also advocated the extra shot for residents of nursing homes, people with immunodeficiency aged 5 and above, and staff at medical and nursing care facilities. It said Thursday that the at-risk groups should get the second booster three months at the earliest after the first, and health sector staff should receive it after six months. It pointed to data showing that the protection provided by the first booster against the now-dominant omicron variant wanes after a few months, particularly for the highest-risk groups.