“Currently, it is too early to confirm whether and when a booster dose for covid-19 vaccines will be needed, because there is still not enough data from ongoing vaccination campaigns and studies to understand how long protection against the vaccines will last, also considering the spread of variants”, said the two European institutions in a joint statement.

However, EMA and ECDC ensured that they are already working with each other and with the national technical advisory groups on immunization, ie the experts from Member States who advise on immunization programs coordinated by ECDC.

“Any new evidence that becomes available on this topic will be quickly reviewed. Real-world efficacy data from Europe and other parts of the world are of particular interest to complement data from clinical trials investigating booster doses,” added the two bodies.

In parallel, underlined the European regulator of the medicine, there is also a collaboration work with the laboratories responsible for the development of vaccines for the coordination around the presentation of data on this matter.

"This should ensure that regulatory measures to allow for the possibility of using a booster dose can be taken as soon as possible, should it prove necessary," stressed the EMA.

While the pandemic is not declared under control, the two European entities defended once again the importance of maintaining non-pharmacological protective measures, especially the use of masks and respect for social distance in order to "contain community transmission of the Delta variant until more populations are fully vaccinated” against covid-19.