FDA Signs Off On New Booster COVID-19 Vaccines

 

Great news!  With the threat of a new wave of COVID-19 coming, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just signed off on two new booster shots, one from Moderna and one from Pfizer/BioNTech.  The mRNA vaccines have been updated to teach the body to fight the XBB.1.5 Omnicron subvariant of the coronavirus and other closely related strains that are circulating.  The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will make recommendations for their use—they are scheduled to meet tomorrow.  After the CDC director signs off on those recommendations, the vaccines can be administered.  Therefore, they could be available in pharmacies in just a few days. 

 

Flu and COVID-19 Booster Vaccinations In Salinas November 2

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Make your appointment now by calling 646-4931 or 646-5050 to get your flu shot and COVID19 booster vaccination.  Alliance on Aging has teamed up with the Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) to provide them at The HUB which is located at 236 Monterey Street in Salinas.  Bus passes and Taxi vouchers are available if transportation or parking is an issue please ask about them when you call.  They will be provided from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 2.

FDA Gives Guidance On COVID-19 Booster Shots

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The U.S. Food & Drug Administration or FDA today announced the new rules for booster shots.  Seniors 65 years of age and older, individuals 18-64 those are at high risk of developing severe COVID and those exposed to the virus either through their work or living situation are also eligible.  “After considering the totality of the available scientific evidence and the deliberations of our advisory committee of independent, external experts, the FDA amended the EUA for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to allow for a booster dose in certain populations such as health care workers, teachers and day care staff, grocery workers and those in homeless shelters or prisons, among others,” acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said in a statement.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/22/fda-authorizes-pfizers-covid-booster-shots-in-people-65-and-older-and-other-vulnerable-americans.html

To Booster Or Not To Booster, That Is The COVID-19 Question Of The Day

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Scientific advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are meeting tomorrow to decide which Americans should get COVID-19 booster shots and when.  The decision will be closely watched after advisers to the Food and Drug Administration on Friday overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to offer Pfizer booster shots to all Americans over the age of 16 and then unanimously voted in favor of third doses for those over 65 and some high risk groups.  The experts confirmed that a third dose does boost antibody levels, although it’s unclear how long that increase lasts or whether it translates to a meaningful boost in protection against severe disease.