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. 

 

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

A person holding a stethoscope in their hand.


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.