WHO urges continued Covid-19 vaccination

ISLAMABAD: The World Health Organization (WHO) has reiterated the importance of Covid-19 vaccination as a vital public health measure, emphasizing that updated vaccine formulations are key to combating evolving variants of the virus.

A recent statement from the WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Covid-19 Vaccine Composition (TAG-CO-VAC) recommends retaining the monovalent JN.1 lineage variant in future COVID-19 vaccines to enhance immune responses against the circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants. Despite advancements in vaccination efforts, SARS-CoV-2 continues to circulate globally, with significant genetic evolution of its spike protein, the WHO said on Monday, adding that this evolution led to the emergence of new variants that posed ongoing challenges to public health systems worldwide.

The WHO’s recommendation aligns with its objective to improve vaccine-induced immunity against prevalent variants. Studies have shown that monovalent JN.1 lineage vaccines are effective in eliciting strong neutralizing antibody responses to JN.1 and its descendent lineages, such as KP.3.1.1 and XEC. These variants currently dominate global circulation. TAG-CO-VAC has advised member states to continue Covid-19 vaccination programs without delay, using any WHO emergency-use listed or prequalified vaccines. The group has also encouraged vaccine manufacturers to focus on formulations that maintain robust immune responses against emerging variants.

In a comprehensive review conducted from December 10-12, 2024, TAG-CO-VAC analyzed global data on the evolution of SARS-CoV-2, immune responses from vaccination, and vaccine performance. Evidence indicated that vaccination with monovalent JN.1 or KP.2 antigens significantly increased antibody titers against circulating variants. Additionally, these vaccines demonstrated protection against severe disease and death, particularly among high-risk populations such as individuals aged 65 and older or those with underlying conditions.

The WHO has also highlighted the ongoing gaps in reporting and genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 by member states, which complicates efforts to monitor epidemiological trends and assess the impact of emerging variants. Strengthening these systems remains a priority to effectively combat the virus’s evolution.

While vaccination programs should continue using existing formulations, TAG-CO-VAC encourages research into new vaccine antigens derived from recent variants to further improve protection and reduce transmission. The advisory group stressed that future vaccines must balance broad immune responses with practical considerations for global distribution.

The WHO’s Standing Recommendations for Covid-19 underscore the urgency of vaccination, especially in the face of persistent gaps in epidemiological reporting. By maintaining a proactive approach to vaccine development and deployment, member states can ensure better health outcomes for their populations.

As part of its ongoing efforts, TAG-CO-VAC will reconvene every six months to review new data and issue recommendations on whether to maintain current vaccine compositions or adopt updates to address emerging challenges.