McGill study finds immunocompromised individuals should get COVID vaccine boosters every year
Posted March 31, 2025 5:02 pm.
New research from McGill University has found that some immunocompromised people should still receive annual COVID-19 vaccine boosters.
The study reportedly looked into how often people with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) — rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, and multiple sclerosis — got COVID-19, even after having three doses of a vaccine, and found that 15 per cent of those individuals got COVID-19 within the year-long test period.
“Our findings highlight why booster doses are so important, because immunity naturally wanes over time, and maintaining those high antibody levels may be key to protecting against infection,” said senior author Sasha Bernatsky, a professor and scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre.
“This is an important takeaway for those who assume they have lasting immunity after contracting the virus.”
The study also found that medications taken by those individuals weaken the COVID-19 vaccine, meaning they are more susceptible to getting COVID-19 compared to those who have higher antibodies.
“COVID-19 remains a major cause of hospitalizations, especially for vulnerable groups. Much like influenza, it’s now a seasonal threat we can’t ignore,” Bernatsky said.
