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Waning immunity not unusual says Bocking, as health unit urges third-dose booster shots - Lindsay Advocate Waning immunity not unusual says Bocking, as health unit urges third-dose booster shots - Lindsay Advocate By William McGinn "More research is being done to investigate Omicron's severity of illness, transmissibility and impact on existing vaccine effectiveness." As booster shot eligibility is now lowered to 50, the local health unit's medical officer of health, Dr. Natalie Bocking, says it's not a surprise another shot is now needed to fight against COVID-19. According to the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit's COVID-19 dashboard, since July 1 and as of Dec. 14, there have been 497 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the region. Nearly 59 per cent have been unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status, but 27 per cent of the cases have come from those fully vaccinated (meaning two doses.) Ten per cent were partially vaccinated, and the rest were not yet protected from their vaccination due to the timing of their vaccine acquirement. Bocking said emerging evidence shows COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness may decrease over time, referred to as waning immunity, and a booster dose can help restore and maintain protection. "Getting a booster dose of any vaccine is not unusual," she explained. "Many children's vaccines include boosters given at different ages. There is also the tetanus vaccine, which requires a booster shot every 10 years. An even better example is the influenza vaccine, which is recommended every year to provide protection against Waning immunity not unusual says Bocking, as health unit urges third-do... https://lindsayadvocate.ca/waning-immunity-not-unusual-says-bocking-a... 1 of 2 12/20/2021, 5:11 PM