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FDA authorizes second booster
shots for adults age 50 and older |
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The US Food and Drug
Administration has expanded the emergency use authorization of the Pfizer and
Moderna Covid-19 vaccines to allow adults age 50 and older to get a second booster
as early as four months after their first booster dose of any Covid-19
vaccine. The move extends the
availability of additional boosters to healthy older adults. The FDA had
previously allowed additional shots for anyone 12 years of age or older who
was severely immune deficient. This group of people can now receive a
three-dose primary series and two boosters -- a total of five doses. "Current evidence suggests
some waning of protection over time against serious outcomes from COVID-19 in
older and immunocompromised individuals. Based on an analysis of emerging
data, a second booster dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19
vaccine could help increase protection levels for these higher-risk individuals,"
Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and
Research, said in a news release. "Additionally, the data show that an
initial booster dose is critical in helping to protect all adults from the
potentially severe outcomes of COVID-19. So, those who have not received
their initial booster dose are strongly encouraged to do so." The FDA said in making its
decision, it had determined that the known and potential benefits of second
boosters outweigh the known and potential risks for these populations. There is general scientific
agreement that third doses help strengthen immunity against severe illness
from the virus that causes Covid-19. But the science is far from settled on
if -- or even when ,-- fourth doses might be needed since the vaccines
continue to offer a high degree of protection against Covid-19
hospitalization and death, even as protection against illness wanes. |
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