The United States took another step to offer booster doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to older adults and others at high risk of becoming seriously ill from coronavirus, after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in English) approved the application of extra doses of the vaccine in these groups.
The FDA authorized the booster doses for Americans 65 and older, young adults with underlying health conditions, and those whose jobs pose an elevated risk for COVID-19.
The ruling represents a highly watered-down version of President Joe Biden’s administration’s large-scale plan to administer a third dose to nearly all American adults with the goal of increasing their protection amid the spread of the delta variant.
However, there are still a number of obstacles to overcome before starting to administer the reinforcements.
Advisers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) kicked off a two-day meeting to present more specific recommendations on who should get the extra doses and when.
And on their first day of deliberation, some experts were so confused by the questions surrounding the rationale for administering the boosters that they even suggested delaying the decision for a month in hopes of gathering more evidence.
The uncertainties are a further reminder that the science around booster doses is far more complicated than the Biden administration hinted at when the president and his top aides presented their plan last month at the White House.
The FDA’s decision was as expected after the agency’s own advisory panel roundly rejected Biden’s plan last week.
The panel recommended applying boosters only for those who are most vulnerable to severe cases of COVID-19.
Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said in a statement that her agency’s authorization would allow health workers, teachers, grocery store employees and people in homeless shelters or prisons to receive a booster dose.
“As we learn more about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, including the use of a booster dose, we will continue to assess the rapidly evolving science to keep the public informed,” said Woodcock.
Under FDA clearance, vaccinated Americans can receive a third dose six months after receiving the second injection from Pfizer. This is different from Biden’s proposal announced in August, which called for reinforcements after eight months.
“Today’s FDA decision is a major step forward in our effort to provide Americans with additional protection against COVID-19,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted.
“We have been preparing for weeks to administer booster shots to eligible Americans and we are ready to do so after the final recommendation from the CDC later this week.”
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