The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has amended the emergency use authorization for Covid-19 boosters, clearing the way for both Johnson & Johnson and Moderna to be administered.
Pfizer-BioNTech received full FDA approval in August. A third shot for immunocompromised individuals (12 and up), as well as booster shots (18 and up) were cleared under the emergency use authorization last month.
On Wednesday, the FDA OK’d a “heterologous” dose — or mixing and matching boosters — for eligible individuals seeking a booster after completion of their primary vaccination.
“The available data suggest waning immunity in some populations who are fully vaccinated. The availability of these authorized boosters is important for continued protection against COVID-19 disease,” said Janet Woodcock, the acting FDA commissioner.
A single booster of Pfizer and Moderna may be administered to eligible populations at least six months after their last dose. A second Johnson & Johnson shot may be given two months after the initial single-dose vaccination.
People eligible to receive the boosters include those who are:
- 65 years of age and older
- 18 through 64 years of age at high risk of severe Covid-19
- 18 through 64 years of age, with frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2
To read the FDA’s full study on the vaccine responses on individuals who took boosters, click here.
Tips or comments? Email info@portcitydaily.com
