An illustration of antibodies attacking a coronavirus particle. Christoph Burgstedt/Science Photo Library /Getty Images hide caption
An illustration of antibodies attacking a coronavirus particle.
Some scientists have called it "superhuman immunity" or "bulletproof." But immunologist Shane Crotty prefers "hybrid immunity."
"Overall, hybrid immunity to SARS-CoV-2 appears to be impressively potent," Crotty wrote in commentary in Science back in June.
No matter what you call it, this type of immunity offers much-needed good news in what seems like an endless array of bad news regarding COVID-19.
Over the past several months, a series of studies has found that some people mount an extraordinarily powerful immune response against SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19. Their bodies produce very high levels of antibodies, but they also make antibodies with great flexibility likely capable of fighting off the coronavirus variants circulating in the world but also likely effective against variants that may emerge in the future.
"One could reasonably predict that these people will be quite well protected against most and perhaps all of the SARS-CoV-2 variants that we are likely to see in the foreseeable future," says Paul Bieniasz, a virologist at Rockefeller University who helped lead several of the studies.
In a study published online last month, Bieniasz and his colleagues found antibodies in these individuals that can strongly neutralize the six variants of concern tested, including delta and beta, as well as several other viruses related to SARS-CoV-2, including one in bats, two in pangolins and the one that caused the first coronavirus pandemic, SARS-CoV-1.
"This is being a bit more speculative, but I would also suspect that they would have some degree of protection against the SARS-like viruses that have yet to infect humans," Bieniasz says.
So who is capable of mounting this "superhuman" or "hybrid" immune response?
People who have had a "hybrid" exposure to the virus. Specifically, they were infected with the coronavirus in 2020 and then immunized with mRNA vaccines this year. "Those people have amazing responses to the vaccine," says virologist Theodora Hatziioannou at Rockefeller University, who also helped lead several of the studies. "I think they are in the best position to fight the virus. The antibodies in these people's blood can even neutralize SARS-CoV-1, the first coronavirus, which emerged 20 years ago. That virus is very, very different from SARS-CoV-2."
In fact, these antibodies were even able to deactivate a virus engineered, on purpose, to be highly resistant to neutralization. This virus contained 20 mutations that are known to prevent SARS-CoV-2 antibodies from binding to it. Antibodies from people who were only vaccinated or who only had prior coronavirus infections were essentially useless against this mutant virus. But antibodies in people with the "hybrid immunity" could neutralize it.
These findings show how powerful the mRNA vaccines can be in people with prior exposure to SARS-CoV-2, she says. "There's a lot of research now focused on finding a pan-coronavirus vaccine that would protect against all future variants. Our findings tell you that we already have it.
"But there's a catch, right?" she adds: You first need to be sick with COVID-19. "After natural infections, the antibodies seem to evolve and become not only more potent but also broader. They become more resistant to mutations within the [virus]."
Hatziioannou and colleagues don't know if everyone who has had COVID-19 and then an mRNA vaccine will have such a remarkable immune response. "We've only studied the phenomena with a few patients because it's extremely laborious and difficult research to do," she says.
But she suspects it's quite common. "With every single one of the patients we studied, we saw the same thing." The study reports data on 14 patients.
Several other studies support her hypothesis and buttress the idea that exposure to both a coronavirus and an mRNA vaccine triggers an exceptionally powerful immune response. In one study, published last month in The New England Journal of Medicine, scientists analyzed antibodies generated by people who had been infected with the original SARS virus SARS-CoV-1 back in 2002 or 2003 and who then received an mRNA vaccine this year.
Remarkably, these people also produced high levels of antibodies and it's worth reiterating this point from a few paragraphs above antibodies that could neutralize a whole range of variants and SARS-like viruses.
Now, of course, there are so many remaining questions. For example, what if you catch COVID-19 after you're vaccinated? Or can a person who hasn't been infected with the coronavirus mount a "superhuman" response if the person receives a third dose of a vaccine as a booster?
Hatziioannou says she can't answer either of those questions yet. "I'm pretty certain that a third shot will help a person's antibodies evolve even further, and perhaps they will acquire some breadth [or flexibility], but whether they will ever manage to get the breadth that you see following natural infection, that's unclear."
Immunologist John Wherry, at the University of Pennsylvania, is a bit more hopeful. "In our research, we already see some of this antibody evolution happening in people who are just vaccinated," he says, "although it probably happens faster in people who have been infected."
In a recent study, published online in late August, Wherry and his colleagues showed that, over time, people who have had only two doses of the vaccine (and no prior infection) start to make more flexible antibodies antibodies that can better recognize many of the variants of concern.
So a third dose of the vaccine would presumably give those antibodies a boost and push the evolution of the antibodies further, Wherry says. So a person will be better equipped to fight off whatever variant the virus puts out there next.
"Based on all these findings, it looks like the immune system is eventually going to have the edge over this virus," says Bieniasz, of Rockefeller University. "And if we're lucky, SARS-CoV-2 will eventually fall into that category of viruses that gives us only a mild cold."
COVID-19 booster shots may be coming for at least some Americans but already the Biden administration is being forced to scale back expectations illustrating just how much important science still has to be worked out.
The initial plan was to offer Pfizer or Moderna boosters starting Sept. 20, contingent on authorization from U.S. regulators. But now administration officials acknowledge Moderna boosters probably wont be ready by then the Food and Drug Administration needs more evidence to judge them. Adding to the complexity, Moderna wants its booster to be half the dose of the original shots.
As for Pfizers booster, who really needs another dose right away isnt a simple decision either. Whats ultimately recommended for an 80-year-old vaccinated back in December may be different than for a 35-year-old immunized in the spring who likely would get a stronger immunity boost by waiting longer for another shot.
FDAs scientific advisers will publicly debate Pfizers evidence on Sept. 17, just three days before the administrations target. If the FDA approves another dose, then advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will recommend who should get one.
Thats tricky because while real-world data shows the vaccines used in the U.S. remain strongly protective against severe disease and death, their ability to prevent milder infection is dropping. Its not clear how much of that is due to immunity waning or the extra-contagious delta variant or the fact that delta struck just as much of the country dropped masks and other precautions.
When to jump to boosters becomes a judgment, said Dr. Jesse Goodman of Georgetown University, a former FDA vaccine chief. And is that urgent or do we have time for the data to come in?
Already the CDC is considering recommending the first boosters just for nursing home residents and older adults whod be at highest risk of severe disease if their immunity wanes -- and to front-line health workers who cant come to work if they get even a mild infection.
Some other countries already have begun offering boosters amid an ethical debate about whether rich countries should get a third dose before most people in poor countries get their first round. Heres what we know about the biology behind booster decisions:
WHAT DO BOOSTER SHOTS DO?
Vaccines train the immune system to fight the coronavirus, including by producing antibodies that block the virus from getting inside cells. People harbor huge levels right after the shots. But just like with vaccines against other diseases, antibodies gradually drop until reaching a low maintenance level.
A booster dose revs those levels back up again.
Pfizer and Moderna have filed FDA applications for booster doses but the government will decide on extra Johnson & Johnson doses later, once that company shares its booster data with the agency.
HOW MUCH PROTECTION DOES THAT TRANSLATE INTO?
No one yet knows the magic line the antibody level known as the correlate of protection below which people are at risk for even mild infection, said immunologist Ali Ellebedy of Washington University at St. Louis.
But vaccines main purpose is to prevent severe disease. Its a very high bar to really go and say we can completely block infection, Ellebedy noted.
Plus, peoples responses to their initial vaccination vary. Younger people, for example, tend to produce more antibodies to begin with than older adults. That means months later when antibody levels have naturally declined, some people may still have enough to fend off infection while others dont.
That initial variation is behind the FDAs recent decision that people with severely weakened immune systems from organ transplants, cancer or other conditions need a third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine to have a chance at protection. In those people, its not a booster but an extra amount they need up-front.
WONT ANTIBODIES JUST WANE AGAIN AFTER A BOOSTER?
Eventually. We dont know the duration of protection following the boosters, cautioned Dr. William Moss of Johns Hopkins University.
But antibodies are only one defense. If an infection sneaks past, white blood cells called T cells help prevent serious illness by killing virus-infected cells. Another type called memory B cells jump into action to make lots of new antibodies.
Those back-up systems help explain why protection against severe COVID-19 is holding strong so far for most people. One hint of trouble: CDC has preliminary data that effectiveness against hospitalization in people 75 and older dropped slightly in July -- to 80% -- compared to 94% or higher for other adults.
Its much easier to protect against severe disease because all you need is immunologic memory. And I would imagine for a younger person that would last for a while, maybe years, said Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia.
WHATS THE BEST TIME TO GET A BOOSTER?
For many other types of vaccines, waiting six months for a booster is the recommended timing. The Biden administration has been planning on eight months for COVID-19 boosters.
The timing matters because the immune system gradually builds layers of protection over months. Give a booster too soon, before the immune response matures, and people can miss out on the optimal benefit, said Dr. Cameron Wolfe, an infectious disease specialist at Duke University.
Sometimes waiting a little bit extra time is in fact appropriate to gain the strongest response, he said.
Not everyones waiting on a final decision. For example, Colorados UCHealth has opened boosters to certain high-risk people first vaccinated back in December and January. San Francisco is giving some people who had a single-dose J&J vaccine a second shot from Pfizer or Moderna.
WILL BOOSTER SHOTS CONTAIN THE ORIGINAL VACCINE, OR ONE TAILORED TO DELTA?
The boosters will be an extra dose of the original vaccine. Manufacturers still are studying experimental doses tweaked to better match delta. Theres no public data yet that its time to make such a dramatic switch, which would take more time to roll out. And independent research, including studies from Ellebedys team, shows the original vaccine produces antibodies that can target delta.
Im very, very confident that this vaccine will work against delta with a single booster of the same vaccine, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla told The Associated Press.
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AP Medical Writer Carla K. Johnson contributed to this report.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
The FDA grants full approval for Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
Experts suspect private companies were waiting on full approval before requiring the vaccination for workers.
USA TODAY, Storyful
WATERBURY Three Vermont state troopers who are accused of being involved in a scheme to create fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards have resigned, state officials said Tuesday.
Troopers Shawn Sommers and Raymond Witkowski resigned Aug. 10, a day after a fellow trooper told supervisors about the alleged scheme. Trooper David Pfindel resigned Sept. 3 following further investigation, according to a state police news release.
The three ex-troopers are suspected of having varying roles in the making of fraudulent vaccination cards, according to the release.
"The accusations in this case involve an extraordinary level of misconduct a criminal violation of the law and I could not be more upset and disappointed," Col. Matthew T. Birmingham, director of the Vermont State Police, said in the release.
"If these allegations are proved to be true, it is reprehensible that state troopers would manipulate vaccination cards in the midst of a pandemic, when being vaccinated is one of the most important steps anyone can take to keep their community safe from COVID-19," he added
Sommers and Witkowski both joined the Vermont State Police in July 2016. Pfindel was hired in January 2014, police said.
COVID-19 vaccines: Woman arrested for using fake 'Maderna' vaccine card during Hawaii trip
Need to show proof of COVID vaccination?: How to safely store vaccine info on your phone
Federal authorities are investigating the allegations. Vermont State Police declined to comment further due to the FBI investigation.
Diane Pantaleo, USA TODAY NETWORK| Kitsap Sun
Kitsap County has administered more than 286,761 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, as of Sept. 7, according to data from the Washington State Department of Health.
That's up very slightly by 0.78% from the previous week's tally of 284,539 COVID-19 doses administered.
In Kitsap County, 50% of people living in Kitsap County are fully vaccinated as of Sept. 7. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers someone fully vaccinated two weeks after they've been given a single-dose shot (Johnson & Johnson) or a second shot (either Pfizer or Moderna).
Washington reported 586,694 total cases of coronavirus, an increase of 4% from the week before.
The five counties with the highest percentage of their population fully vaccinated in Washington as of Sept. 7 are San Juan County (75%), Jefferson County (71%), King County (69%), Whatcom County (61%) and Snohomish County (59%).
Here are the latest numbers on COVID-19 vaccinations in Kitsap County as of Sept. 7:
For a county-by-county look at the vaccination rollout, see our COVID-19 vaccine tracker, which is updated daily.
We pull data on local vaccine distribution on a weekly basis. Check back for our next weekly update mid-week for the latest numbers.
By Clare Wilson
A coronavirus vaccine dose being given in Jerusalem last month
Maya Alleruzzo/AP/Shutterstock
AS A growing body of data suggests that vaccine-induced protection from covid-19 declines over time, many nations are gearing up to roll out a booster programme. Israel has already begun, while the US, France and Germany have all announced plans to begin rolling out third doses. Some other countries, including the UK, are holding back, with results from a key trial of third shots expected imminently.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which advises UK health departments, has been mulling
COVID-19 vaccines are safe for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). But some MS medications could reduce the ability of the vaccines to protect against COVID-19. Still, experts conclude that the benefits of vaccination outweigh any risks.
Anyone with concerns about the safety of a COVID-19 vaccine should speak with a healthcare professional.
Having a lowers the overall risk of the disease. Being vaccinated also protects others, in the community and the population at large, and it means facing fewer restrictions on daily activities.
Keep reading to learn about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines for people with MS.
Stay informed with live updates on the current COVID-19 outbreak and visit our coronavirus hub for more advice on prevention and treatment.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society recommends that people with MS get vaccinated against COVID-19.
COVID-19 can be life threatening for anyone, but some MS-associated factors can increase the risk of a more serious outcome. These factors include, for example, certain MS treatments and the extent of disability.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society formed a group of researchers and medical experts to review the evidence and safety of COVID-19 vaccines for people with MS.
The review concluded that COVID-19 vaccines are safe for people with MS and do not have harmful interactions with MS medications.
COVID-19 can have severe consequences, and allowing the virus to continue spreading especially endangers the lives of people with vulnerabilities to infections.
Find other tips for preventing the spread of COVID-19.
There is currently no evidence that COVID-19 vaccinations cause an MS relapse or have long-term implications for how the disease progresses.
Any medication can cause side effects, and COVID-19 vaccines can cause mild, transient ones. This is normal, and it results from the bodys process of developing immunity.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlight these common side effects of COVID-19 vaccines:
If a person with MS develops a fever as a vaccine side effect, it could temporarily worsen MS symptoms.
More specifically, a 2021 survey of 262 people with MS found that 57% of respondents reported some neurological symptoms following the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination. The most common side effects were sensory disturbances, which typically occurred within the first 24 hours and lasted up to 3 days.
A study from the same year in 555 people with MS found that pain around the injection site, tiredness, and headaches were the most common side effects of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
The researchers found no increase in the risk of MS relapse after 20 and 38 days in participants who had received the vaccine, compared with those who had not.
All data and statistics are based on publicly available data at the time of publication. Some information may be out of date. Visit our coronavirus hub and follow our live updates page for the most recent information on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some MS treatments may reduce the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine due to how they change the immune system.
A 2021 study suggested that some disease-modifying therapies could lower COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness. These therapies interact with the immune system to suppress its defenses against infections.
The researchers specify that the following treatments may limit how well COVID-19 vaccines work:
MS treatments that should not influence the effectiveness of these vaccines include:
It is important to note even vaccines with reduced effectiveness offer a strong defense against COVID-19 for people with MS.
Anyone taking a disease-modifying MS drug, even one that may reduce the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, should continue taking it. Sudden changes to a long-term treatment plan may lead to an MS flare.
It is important for people with MS to discuss how and when to get their COVID-19 vaccine with a doctor.
No evidence suggests that having MS directly increases the risk of developing COVID-19. However, there is very little research in this area.
One 2021 study of 219 people with MS found no evidence of an increased risk of severe COVID-19 or infection with the underlying virus. However, it is important to note that the number of participants was small, and severe COVID-19 is rare.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society reports that people with MS are more likely to develop severe COVID-19 if they have at least one of the following risk factors:
Learn about the origins of COVID-19 and how it spreads.
Having MS is unlikely to increase the risk of adverse effects of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Adverse effects are not the same as side effects. Side effects include a fever, fatigue, and soreness. Adverse effects of the COVID-19 vaccine can include blood clots, myocarditis, and Guillain-Barr syndrome. All are rare.
There is no indication that people with MS have a higher risk of these health issues. But if any concerning symptoms develop, a person should seek emergency medical care.
Learn about the symptoms of a blood clot here.
Three vaccines have been approved for use in the United States: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Janssen, also called Johnson & Johnson. There is no evidence that any vaccine is more likely to cause adverse effects in people with MS.
As the CDC confirms, vaccines are safe and effective for preventing COVID-19, and they can reduce the spread of the underlying virus.
Vaccination lowers the risk of developing this disease. It is a safe way of building immunity against COVID-19 that can last for a long time. Getting the vaccine can also reduce the number of restrictions on daily activities.
In addition, being vaccinated reduces the risk of the virus passing on to other people. Preventing this transmission is critical for protecting vulnerable people from severe illness and death from the disease. Limiting the circulation of the virus may also reduce the likelihood of a new, more dangerous variant developing.
As MS experts confirm, COVID-19 vaccines are safe.
Some people with MS have a higher risk of severe COVID-19, and getting vaccinated may be especially important for these groups, as it can help prevent serious complications.
Some MS treatments that alter the immune system may reduce the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. However, the vaccines remain safe for people taking these medications. And even vaccines with reduced effectiveness offer strong protection against COVID-19.
Speak with a doctor about specific risks associated with COVID-19 and possible interactions with medications.
As many Americans receive the COVID-19 vaccine, some have complained about fever, chills and other ailments they weren't expecting. And with the Biden administration's announcement that booster shots will be offered, many may be wondering if they'll experience similar side effects.
Here & Now's Tonya Mosley speaks with STAT reporter Andrew Joseph.
Headaches are a common side effect of the COVID-19 vaccination. Migraine, a condition that can cause severe, recurring headaches associated with nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound, can be a common headache after COVID-19 vaccination.
The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and can protect an individual from complications of COVID-19, as well as helping to protect the wider community. Some people notice several mild, temporary side effects after receiving their vaccination. These side effects are common signs of the immune system mounting its defenses against the coronavirus infection.
Headaches are a common side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine. Some people with migraine may experience a temporary worsening of the condition after receiving the vaccine. A person can ensure they are well hydrated before vaccination to improve wellbeing.
Keep reading to learn about the link between COVID-19 vaccines and migraine headaches.
Stay informed with live updates on the current COVID-19 outbreak and visit our coronavirus hub for more advice on prevention and treatment.
Rigorous testing and strict protective measures have ensured that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective. However, any form of medication can have side effects, including vaccines.
Headaches are a common side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine. Data from the ZOE COVID Study suggest that around 10% of people experience headaches or tiredness after the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. They also state that 2542% of people in the original Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine trial experienced headaches.
A migraine is an intense pulsing or throbbing pain in the head that lasts up to 72 hours without treatment. Other symptoms can also occur, including nausea and sensitivity to light.
Learn the difference between migraine and a headache here.
Although there has been little research in this area, people who experience migraine headaches could experience one after the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that around 1% of people aged 1855 experienced a severe headache following the first Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine dose and 3% after the second.
Migraine headaches can be painful and debilitating, but the symptoms should pass. The American Migraine Foundation states that COVID-19 can be life threatening to people living with migraine headaches and poses a greater risk than getting the vaccine.
Learn about migraine as a symptom of COVID-19 here.
All data and statistics are based on publicly available data at the time of publication. Some information may be out of date. Visit our coronavirus hub and follow our live updates page for the most recent information on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some common triggers for people experiencing migraines include:
The triggers of migraine episodes will vary from person to person. Identifying the factors that cause migraine headaches is an important step to preventing them. Using a diary to record the context of each episode can help people to identify possible triggers.
Read more about migraine triggers here.
According to the CDC, the COVID-19 vaccination can cause side effects that include:
These side effects should go away on their own within a couple of days. In very rare cases, the COVID-19 vaccine can also cause more serious reactions in some people. For example, it could cause a severe allergic reaction, such as anaphylaxis. This can occur in people who are allergic to a substance in the vaccine.
The COVID-19 vaccine typically causes side effects that occur within 24 hours of the injection. Around 72% of people report pain, redness, or swelling around the injection site after the first dose and 69% after the second. This side effect can occur immediately after vaccination.
People may experience other symptoms after a few hours, such as tiredness and fever. People can experience these symptoms with different onsets and durations. However, data from the ZOE COVID Study suggest that symptoms typically peak within 24 hours of vaccination and last up to 48 hours in total.
The CDC also states that symptoms are typically more intense after the second vaccine dose than the first.
Learn about how COVID-19 may progress here.
The Foods and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Janssen COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. Each type of vaccine is safe and effective at preventing COVID-19, severe illness, and death from the new coronavirus.
The lack of research into links between COVID-19 vaccines and migraine makes it unclear whether specific types of vaccines are more likely to cause a migraine headache. Headaches are a common side effect of the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Janssen vaccines.
Stress is a common trigger for episodes in people living with migraine headaches. Getting vaccinated could be stressful for some people, which may trigger a migraine headache regardless of the vaccine type.
There is no cure for migraine headaches, but treatments aim to prevent episodes or reduce symptoms during episodes. Some doctors may recommend erenumab for preventing migraine headaches.
Medications to treat other conditions can also help people with migraine headaches, such as epilepsy drugs. People with chronic migraine headaches may also have Botox to treat the condition. Identifying and avoiding triggers is another method of managing chronic migraine headaches.
Learn 15 natural and home remedies for migraine relief here.
The American Migraine Foundation states that there is currently no evidence migraine medication will interfere with the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine. They also recommend against taking over-the-counter medications before the vaccination to help prevent side effects, such as ibuprofen.
Many types of migraine headaches can cause different symptoms. Some common migraine headache symptoms people experience include:
Learn about different types of headaches here.
All vaccines can cause side effects. These are typically a sign of the immune system building up its defenses against potential infection. The side effects across different vaccines can be similar.
For example, headaches are a common side effect of the flu vaccine. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine can also cause headaches. These side effects could induce an episode in people who experience chronic migraine headaches.
Learn what vaccines are and how they work here.
The COVID-19 vaccine can cause mild, temporary symptoms, including headaches. Some people may experience a migraine headache following the vaccine. However, other side effects are more common, such as pain at the injection site.
People who have a history of migraine can experience an episode after the vaccine. However, the risks of COVID-19 can be life-threatening; therefore, the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of these side effects.
Two states in Nigeria Edo and Ondo recently announced compulsory COVID-19 vaccinations for adults. Even after a court restrained the Edo State government from going ahead, it insists the order stands. The Federal Government is also considering making COVID-19 vaccination compulsory for civil servants. Abiodun Odusote weighs in on the legality of these orders.
At the moment, mandatory COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria is illegal. I am not aware of any legislation or regulation that mandates Nigerians to take vaccines. Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination cannot be made by oral proclamation like what happened in these two states. It must be based on legislation or regulation based on public health and safety otherwise the actions of the state functionaries will amount to violations of citizens right to privacy, right to movement and right to religious life.
I agree that making COVID-19 vaccination mandatory could be reasonably justified for contagious and serious diseases like COVID-19 because there is a real and grave threat to public health and safety. This reasoning would make such an order compliant with Section 45 of the Constitution. However, there must be a law or regulation to that effect. I am not aware of any at the moment.
There are other issues to consider too. How many people have been vaccinated in Nigeria at the moment? Just over four million out of a population of over 200 million. Thats not up to 2% of our population. Have we interrogated the reasons behind this abysmally low level of vaccination? Are we sure we have enough vaccines to go round? Are we sure the majority of the people are aware of the need and importance of being vaccinated? Have we tried to educate the majority of the people? Are we dealing with deliberate refusal to get vaccinated or are we dealing with vaccine hesitancy? Or are people refusing vaccines for religious reasons?
The government at all levels must provide scientific explanations to these posers before the announcement of a policy of compulsory vaccination. Answers to these questions should inform its response. I am aware that there are more than a few people that would like to be vaccinated but have not been privileged to have a jab. I know of some others that for religious reasons, they prefer not to be vaccinated. Concerns over vaccine safety still remain. Obviously, encouraging these groups to get vaccinated will require different approaches. Making vaccination compulsory is not the only way to obtain high vaccination rates. Research into how to further improve uptake rates among vaccine-hesitant citizens is more important than mandatory vaccination.
It should be noted however that mandatory vaccination has been used to achieve great results in some other countries in respect of child immunisation. Singapore, Belgium, Slovenia and some countries in the Americas 29 have mandatory vaccinations.
But coercion through compulsion might not be effective in Nigeria. It may be counterproductive as it has the potential to lend credence to conspiracy theories. Why not be bothered about many dying because of cholera and insecurity? Why the overdrive in respect of COVID-19 vaccination when many more are dying as a result of malaria and insecurity of lives and properties. Government should educate and provide incentives for vaccination rather than threatening and coercing citizens.
Mandating vaccinations for COVID-19 raises many complex and difficult legal questions concerning the interplay of competing human rights. On the one hand there is the issue of health and safety. On the other personal human rights.
There cannot be interference with the human rights of citizens unless:
it is in accordance with law, and
is necessary for the protection of health and safety or rights and freedoms of others.
In the context where mandatory vaccination is being proposed without extant regulations or laws, aggrieved citizens can bring an application to enforce their fundamental rights to privacy, movement, religious beliefs and threatened violation of the right to bodily integrity.
They can also seek to have the order set aside by asking for an order for declaratory relief declaring the mandatory vaccination policy illegal and therefore null and void for failure to follow due process of law. Such an injunctive order would restrain the government from implementing the compulsory vaccination policy.
During the colonial period in northern Nigeria, there was vaccine hesitancy which resulted in considerably fewer smallpox vaccinations being carried out in the area. The colonial administration introduced a Vaccination Ordinance, originally enacted in 1917. In 1945, the Ordinance was amended to include a schedule for compulsory vaccination of adults and their children to be organised by local political authorities.
The Native Authority officials were emirs and traditional chiefs and were responsible for determining penalties for non-cooperation. They had little means of enforcing the penalties. Not much success was recorded.
After independence Nigerian governments took a different approach to national vaccination. Primary health centres were established across the country and citizens were educated and implored to vaccinate their children. Many international NGOs were involved including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as well as state governors and politicians.
With these, tremendous success was recorded especially poliomyelitis. Consequently Nigeria was declared polio free on 25 August, 2020.
I recommend a similar approach for the COVID-19 vaccination and not mandatory vaccination.
The U.S. and other nations have already begun some vaccine booster shots for vulnerable people.
GENEVA, Switzerland The head of the World Health Organization is calling on rich countries with large supplies of coronavirus vaccines to refrain from offering booster shots through the end of the year, expanding an earlier request that has largely fallen on deaf ears.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also said Wednesday that he was appalled at comments by a leading association of pharmaceutical manufacturers a day earlier who said vaccine supplies are high enough to allow for both booster shots and vaccinations in countries in dire need of jabs but facing shortages.
I will not stay silent when companies and countries that control the global supply of vaccines think the worlds poor should be satisfied with leftovers, he told a news conference in Geneva.
Tedros had previously called for a moratorium on booster shots through the end of September. But wealthy nations countries including Israel, Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, Spain and the United States have begun or are considering plans to offer third shots of two-dose vaccines to their vulnerable people such as the elderly or those with compromised immune systems.
The WHO chief said he received a message of clear support from health ministers at a meeting of the influential Group of 20 countries this month for a commitment to help hit a WHO target that all countries vaccinate at least 40% of their people by year's end.
A month ago, I called for a global moratorium on booster doses, at least until the end of September to prioritize vaccinating the most at risk people around the world who are yet to receive their first dose, Tedros said. There has been little change in the global situation since then.
So today, Im calling for an extension of the moratorium until at least the end of the year to enable every country to vaccinate at least 40% of its population, he said.
WHO says 5.5 billion coronavirus vaccines have been administered so far, but 80% of those have been to upper- and middle-income countries. Rich countries have also offered to donate 1 billion vaccine doses to other countries, but under 15% of those doses have materialized," Tedros said, noting that manufacturers have pledged to prioritize a U.N.-backed program to get vaccines to the neediest people in the world.
We dont want any more promises. We just want the vaccines, the WHO chief said.
