Local Dr.: Fourth COVID booster shot may be needed

Posted on January 11, 2022
Dr. John Wieland spoke with WJBC’s Scott Miller. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – According to a local doctor, medical experts are looking into a fourth booster shot to increase protection against COVID-19.

Dr. John Wieland, Medical Director of Acute Care Services at Carle BroMenn Medical Center, said laboratory development is underway to determine if a fourth shot is needed.

“The concern has been that new varients will find their way around that S protein (found in mRNA vaccine) and be able to infect without necessarily being susceptible to a single vaccine.”

Last week, Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said that as the vaccine’s efficiency falls over time, some may need a fourth shot by the fall.

“Everybody has COVID-fatigue, that’s for sure.” Dr. Wieland told WJBC’s, Scott Miller. “But this is in the population, and it really looks like it’s not going to leave any time soon, and so I think we do have to shift some of the thinking to living with it instead of trying to eradicate it completely.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has only approved a third dose of the vaccine and has yet to approve the fourth dose.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

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