The Food and Drug Administration late Wednesday authorized boosters shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for emergency use in seniors, persons at high risk from COVID-19 and those whose jobs make them more likely to get infected.
FDA regulators said the boosters can be administered at least six months after the second dose was given in the initial vaccination course.
“Today’s action demonstrates that science and the currently available data continue to guide the FDA’s decision-making for COVID-19 vaccines during this pandemic,” acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said.
The FDA followed the recommendation of a panel of outside advisers, who days earlier rejected President Biden’s push to give boosters to the general population amid reports of breakthrough infections in the fully vaccinated and data that show waning immune responses after six months or so.
Advisers said there wasn’t enough data on whether younger persons were still at risk of severe disease, so they pumped the brakes.
An advisory panel to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is convening Thursday and will vote on who, exactly, qualifies for the booster. For instance, would teaching be considered a high-risk occupation?
Top Biden officials say boosters might become available for everyone as data on potentially waning protection rolls in.
“This pandemic is dynamic and evolving, with new data about vaccine safety and effectiveness becoming available every day. As we learn more about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, including the use of a booster dose, we will continue to evaluate the rapidly changing science and keep the public informed,” Dr. Woodcock said.
Sen. Richard Burr, the top Republican on the Senate Health Committee, called the approval “welcome news.”
“I am glad to see the United States catching up to other countries and acting on the available science,” Mr. Burr, of North Carolina, said. “Vaccines are still the single most important tool we have to save lives and bring an end to this pandemic.”
“Over the last few months, data from Israel and other sources have made it clear that while the Pfizer vaccine is still highly effective, booster shots can help bolster protection over time, which is critical in the midst of the surging delta variant,” he said. “I’d encourage every American who is eligible for a booster shot to get one without delay.”
Mr. Burr said the FDA should continue to follow emerging data to see if all Americans need a booster.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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