U.S.
plans COVID-19 booster shots at six months instead of eight - WSJ
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[August 26, 2021]
(Reuters) -U.S. health regulators could
approve a third COVID-19 shot for adults beginning at least six months
after full vaccination, instead of the previously announced eight-month
gap, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.
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Approval of boosters for three COVID-19 shots being administered in
the United States — those manufactured by Pfizer Inc and partner
BioNTech SE, Moderna Inc and Johnson & Johnson — is expected in
mid-September, the report said, citing a person familiar with the
plans.
Pfizer and BioNTech have already started the application process for
the approval of its booster shot in people 16 and older, saying it
spurs a more than three-fold increase in antibodies against the
coronavirus.
Earlier this week, U.S. regulators granted full approval to Pfizer's
two-dose vaccine. Moderna said on Wednesday it has completed the
real-time review needed for a full approval for its jab in people 18
and above.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in her daily briefing that
any such development would be under the purview of the Centers for
Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC said the government's plan to administer booster shot
depends on pending action from the Food and Drug Administration and
recommendation to it from the Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices.
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The FDA, however, reiterated
its joint statement https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/joint-statement-hhs-public-health-and-medical-experts-covid-19-booster-shots
from last week that said the government was
gearing up to roll out the third shot from
mid-September to Americans who had their initial
course of two-dose vaccines made by Moderna and
Pfizer more than eight months ago.
The rollout would start if the FDA and the CDC
decide that boosters are needed, U.S. officials
had said.
(Reporting by Manojna Maddipatla in Bengaluru;
Editing by Arun Koyyur)
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