Health professionals say fourth vaccine could be in the near future

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

​​​​​​​COVID-19 cases have once again begun to rise worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, and officials say some people will need a fourth dose of the vaccine to fend off another wave.

Pfizer and BioNTech have asked the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization for a second booster shot for people 65 and older.

Boone Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robin Blount, said with the risk of new variants and the vaccines waning immunity, it could soon be time for a fourth shot.

"I recommend that people get that booster, and now there's talk that for some people it may be time for a fourth shot," Dr. Blount said.

Health experts say there will likely be more COVID-19 variants in the future, and while the third booster dose is good at protecting against death and severe illness, its ability to protect against infections is fading.

"COVID is here it's around it continues to form variants just like the flu is a little different each year," Dr. Blount said.

Experts say the BA.2 sub-variant of omicron, is showing some concern and can be found in wastewater across Missouri.

Experts say BA.2 is spreading fast and can cause more severe illness like with delta.

MU Health Care infectious disease specialist Christian Rojas, said some COVID-19 treatments have been a successful step in reducing severe illness leading to hospitalization.

"We now have medications we can use in the outpatient settings. They can use these medications to present severe outcomes or hospitalizations," Rojas said.

But BA.2 is found to be resistant to some COVID-19 treatments and medications, like Monoclonal Antibodies.

Dr. Blount said as the pandemic moves towards an "endemic" experts say people should expect yearly COVID-19 vaccinations a fourth dose available by the fall.

"We're getting into the endemic phase, as we have enough people vaccinated and enough people that actually have the disease," Dr. Blount said.