WHO updates COVID-19 vaccine guidelines for Omicron.

The World Health Organization has updated its COVID-19 vaccination recommendations, stating that healthy children and adolescents may not necessarily need a shot, but older, high-risk groups should get a booster between 6 to 12 months after their last vaccine. The WHO defines high-risk populations as older adults and younger people with other significant risk factors. The recommendations come as countries take differing approaches, with some high-income countries already offering COVID-19 boosters this spring, six months after their last dose. The committee also called for urgent efforts to catch up on routine vaccinations missed during the pandemic and warned of a rise in vaccine-preventable diseases like measles.