The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given authorisation for the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 booster vaccine to be administered to people aged 65 and over
Individuals aged 65 years and older and individuals aged 18-64 at high risk of severe COVID-19 will be offered a Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 booster vaccine following approval from the FDA.
People aged 18-64 years whose occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 puts them at high risk of serious complications of COVID-19 will also be eligible. This includes health care workers, teachers and daycare staff, grocery workers and those in homeless shelters or prisons.
Vaccine safety and effectiveness
Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D., said: “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.
“After considering the totality of the available scientific evidence and the deliberations of our advisory committee of independent, external experts, the FDA amended the EUA for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to allow for a booster dose in certain populations such as health care workers, teachers and daycare staff, grocery workers and those in homeless shelters or prisons, among others.
“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.”
Immunocompromised
On August 13th the FDA also approved a third dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for people with compromised immune systems.
