Following unanimous votes by a committee of independent advisors last week, the Food and Drug Administration approved booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccines produced by Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.
In a similar decision, the FDA approved boosters that are not the same as the vaccination used to immunise people against COVID-19. As an example, a person who received a Johnson & Johnson vaccination may obtain a booster from Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech.
The regulatory changes pave the way for more widespread usage of boosters. The FDA approved a booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in September.
“The available data suggest waning immunity in some populations who are fully vaccinated,” said the FDA’s acting commissioner, Dr. Janet Woodcock, in a statement. “The availability of these authorized boosters is important for continued protection against COVID-19 disease.”
On Thursday, a committee of advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is scheduled to meet to discuss COVID-19 vaccine booster shots and make recommendations on their use. The CDC director makes the final call on vaccine guidelines. After the CDC issues its guidance, the rollout can begin officially.
