<p>The World Health Organization on Tuesday changed its recommendations for Covid-19 vaccines, suggesting that high-risk populations should receive an additional dose 12 months after their last booster.</p>.<p>The health agency defined high-risk populations as older adults, as well as younger people with other significant risk factors. For this group, the agency recommends an additional shot of the vaccine either 6 or 12 months after the latest dose, based on factors such as age and immunocompromising conditions.</p>.<p>The WHO defined the group including healthy children and adolescents as "low priority" and urged countries to consider factors like disease burden before recommending vaccination of this group.</p>.<p>The recommendations come as countries take differing approaches for their populations. Some high-income countries like the United Kingdom and Canada are already offering high-risk people Covid-19 boosters this spring, six months after their last dose.</p>.<p>The WHO said this was an option for a subset of people who were at particular risk, but its recommendations were intended as a best practice global guide.</p>.<p>The agency said its committee of experts had also said that additional booster vaccines for Covid beyond the initial series - two shots and a booster - were no longer routinely recommended for "medium risk" people. </p>
<p>The World Health Organization on Tuesday changed its recommendations for Covid-19 vaccines, suggesting that high-risk populations should receive an additional dose 12 months after their last booster.</p>.<p>The health agency defined high-risk populations as older adults, as well as younger people with other significant risk factors. For this group, the agency recommends an additional shot of the vaccine either 6 or 12 months after the latest dose, based on factors such as age and immunocompromising conditions.</p>.<p>The WHO defined the group including healthy children and adolescents as "low priority" and urged countries to consider factors like disease burden before recommending vaccination of this group.</p>.<p>The recommendations come as countries take differing approaches for their populations. Some high-income countries like the United Kingdom and Canada are already offering high-risk people Covid-19 boosters this spring, six months after their last dose.</p>.<p>The WHO said this was an option for a subset of people who were at particular risk, but its recommendations were intended as a best practice global guide.</p>.<p>The agency said its committee of experts had also said that additional booster vaccines for Covid beyond the initial series - two shots and a booster - were no longer routinely recommended for "medium risk" people. </p>