The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an additional COVID-19 booster dose for older adults and individuals with weakened immune systems. This move is aimed at providing increased protection against the virus this spring. At the same time, the FDA has taken steps to simplify the vaccination process for others.
People aged 65 and above can now get another dose of the bivalent vaccine that targets the Omicron strain. However, it should be at least four months since their first dose. People with weakened immune systems can choose another bivalent booster shot two months after their first booster, and their physician may recommend additional doses in the future.
The FDA also stated that individuals receiving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines should get the newer Omicron-targeted version. If it is their first-ever vaccine, one combo dose will suffice. Those who have received the original vaccinations but haven't had the Omicron-targeted booster yet can still get one.
The FDA believes that the approach will encourage more people to get vaccinated. Authorities in Canada and Britain have already made similar recommendations. High-risk Americans who last received a dose in the fall have been eagerly anticipating this decision. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) must approve the newest round of boosters. Its advisers are expected to meet on Wednesday.
The Pfizer and Moderna boosters offer protection against both the original coronavirus strain and the Omicron versions known as BA.4 and BA.5. Despite the newer Omicron cousins circulating, recent studies indicate that the bivalent shots remain effective.
While COVID-19 may have become less of a health fear for many Americans, it remains a concern for vulnerable populations. With at least 250 people dying daily from COVID-19, many of them elderly or frail, the need for protection cannot be overstated. COVID-19 vaccines have saved millions of lives, and booster doses continue to be effective against severe disease and death, even with more contagious variants.
A spring second booster is a reasonable choice for eligible high-risk groups, according to Dr. Matthew Laurens of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He emphasized that vaccines are available to protect against severe consequences and should be given to individuals at the highest risk who can benefit the most.
However, only 42% of Americans aged 65 and above and just 20% of all adults received their first bivalent vaccine when they were first introduced last fall, according to CDC data. As a result, the FDA's simplification may bring changes for unvaccinated children. Children under five can receive two doses of the bivalent Moderna vaccine or three doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent vaccine. Those who are already five can receive a single bivalent Pfizer shot or two Moderna doses. The number of doses for children who have already been partially or fully vaccinated will depend on their vaccination history.
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