An influential U.S. advisory panel will discuss the possibility of expanding eligibility for the booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to all adults on Friday.
Some cities and states already allow all adults to receive the booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer, but it is not yet an official federal policy. Over the past week, California, New Mexico, Arkansas, West Virginia and Colorado expanded eligibility to include all adults. New York City adopted a similar measure.
Last week, Pfizer asked US regulators to allow booster doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to be administered to anyone over the age of 18. The Food and Drug Administration is expected to approve Pfizer’s application before the advisory panel meets on Friday. The final step, the official recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, could come shortly after the meeting.
The measure would significantly expand eligibility. Booster doses are currently recommended for people who received their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna at least six months ago, if they are 65 years of age or older, or are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 symptoms due to respiratory problems. pre-existing health or because of your work or living conditions. Boosters are also recommended for people who received the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine at least two months ago.
About 31 million Americans have already received an additional dose to their original vaccination schedule, including those with weakened immune systems such as cancer patients and organ transplant recipients who need an additional dose to be fully vaccinated.
Although the three vaccines used in the United States continue to offer strong protection against severe COVID-19 symptoms and death, the vaccine’s effectiveness against a mild infection may decrease over time.
Pfizer has presented preliminary results of a booster dose study that included 10,000 people to support its argument that it is time to expand the booster campaign. The study found that a booster dose could restore protection against symptomatic infection by 95%, even when delta variant spread was increasing. The side effects were similar to those seen with the first two doses of the drug’s vaccine.
Members of the panel, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, have debated in previous meetings whether there is sufficient evidence that booster doses are necessary for all adults.
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Associated Press journalist Matthew Perrone in Washington contributed to this report.
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