av A new bivalent booster with the reported additional capability to neutralize the BA.4/5 Omicron variants was rolled out nationally last fall. However, newer SARS-CoV-2 variants have replaced BA.4 and BA.5, making these vaccines less effective.
Nevertheless, this push for the bivalent COVID-19 genetic vaccine boosters was backed by Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), who strongly recommended these Omicron bivalent boosters for anyone 5 years and older. Such a strong recommendation came as a bit of a surprise given that updated guidance published by the CDC in August 2022 acknowledged that the primary series was unable to halt transmission or prevent infection and that additional protection afforded by boosters was short-lived.
This CCCA review report complements the earlier video presentations by Deanna McLeod where she provides an overview of the flaws in the study used to make these recommendations and provides readers with tools to make informed health choices.
