WHO policy brief: COVID-19 vaccination

Overview

• As per the WHO Director General’s standing recommendations, Member States are recommended to continue to offer COVID-19 vaccination based on both the recommendations of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) and on national prioritization informed by cost benefit reviews.  
• WHO SAGE recommends a simplified single-dose regimen for immunization for most COVID-19 vaccines in high and medium priority-use groups. This simplified dosing regimen aims to improve acceptance and uptake, while providing adequate protection at a time when most people have had at least one prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. 
• Countries are encouraged to explore the periodic re-vaccination of most high priority-use groups and certain sub-populations with special considerations, at an interval of 6–12 months, depending on the group. 
• Countries should procure and use monovalent JN.1 lineage-adapted vaccines as they are likely to provide modestly enhanced protection against currently circulating variants. However, vaccination should not be delayed in anticipation of updated variant-containing vaccines as all currently approved COVID-19 vaccines continue to provide protection against severe disease and death.  
• Countries are encouraged to use evidence-based and behaviourally informed strategies to increase confidence in and uptake of COVID-19 vaccination, particularly in high priority-use groups. This may include exploring co-administration of COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccines. 
• WHO recommends integrating COVID-19 vaccination into primary health care and other routine health services.  
• Countries and donors should continue to invest in research and development of vaccine products with improved attributes.