The following report is from Insider:
The US Food and Drug Administration has authorized a second COVID-19 vaccine booster shot from Pfizer and Moderna for older adults and immunocompromised individuals.
This action will now make a second booster dose of these vaccines available to other populations at higher risk for severe disease, hospitalization and death.
Emerging evidence suggests that a second booster dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine improves protection against severe COVID-19 and is not associated with new safety concerns.
the FDA said in a statement on Tuesday.
Before, only certain immunocompromised individuals could get a single booster shot after three initial doses.
Now, the FDA said a second booster shot of Moderna or Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine may be given to adults 50 years old and over at least four months after they have received their first booster dose of any authorized vaccine.
It said the second booster shot from Pfizer can be also given to individuals 12 years old and over if they are a certain type of immunocompromised, such as those who have undergone solid organ transplantation, or who are living with conditions that “are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromise”.
A second booster shot from Moderna can be given to individuals 18 years old and over if they are the same “certain kinds” of immunocompromised, it said.
In the case of both vaccines, they must be delivered at least four months after the initial booster shot, the FDA said.
Recommendations haven’t changed for those that received Johnson&Johnson’s single dose vaccine, it said.
The FDA said it would continue to evaluate the data for the potential use of a second booster dose in other age groups.
Leana Wen, a professor of public health at George Washington University said on Twitter Tuesday of the FDA decision:
On balance, this is the right call, as it allows individuals who choose additional protection now to get it.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will now need to decide who should get the additional doses and when. The CDC didn’t immediately respond to Insider’s request for when this might be.
Any recommendations are expected to take into account risks and benefits, but this has become increasingly difficult as the pandemic has worn on. For example, the risk of severe disease varies amongst adults older than 50 depending on factors such as underlying health conditions, age, and time since last booster dose or previous infection.
I’ve been getting multiple inquiries from lay friends over the past few days: ‘What does this mean, and what should I do?’ I find it increasingly difficult to tell friends what they should do. It’s becoming really problematic.
John P. Moore, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medicine told the Washington Post.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.
Proverbs 13:17
We already know that the CDC will approve them. However, if you remember last time when the first wave of boosters were being pushed, the CDC Director Rochelle Walensky overruled the panel at the CDC, who voted against unveiling a third shot. The same will probably occur.
Eventually the FDA and CDC will approve the fourth shot for adults by the summer or sooner.
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
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Wow, I can’t fathom that we allowed this to happen for 2 years 🙁