- Millions of Americans who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are now eligible for boosters.
- The FDA and CDC are expected to review data later on boosters for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
- The CDC has recommended that people 65 years old and older and those at high risk of contracting the virus receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine booster shots.
Millions of people in the United States fully vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are eligible for a booster dose now that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has green-lighted its use in specific high-risk groups.
This aligns with the Food and Drug Administration’s update this week of the vaccine’s emergency approval. But it partially goes against a decision made Sept. 23 by the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee.
In a Sept. 24 announcement made well past midnight, the CDC
- People 65 years old and older and residents of long-term care facilities.
- People ages 50 to 64 years old with
underlying medical conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19.
The agency also said the following people fully vaccinated with Pfizer-BioNTech might choose to receive a booster at least 6 months after their second dose, based on their benefits and risks:
- People ages 18 to 49 years old with underlying medical conditions that put them at higher risk of COVID-19.
- People ages 18 to 64 years old who are at higher risk of acquiring the coronavirus or passing the virus due to their job or the institution in which they live.
“I believe we can best serve the nation’s public health needs by providing booster doses [to these groups],” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky said in a news release.
“This aligns with the FDA’s booster authorization and makes these groups eligible for a booster shot.”
This recommendation applies only to people who have received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
The FDA and CDC are expected to review data later on boosters for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
Source: healthline