The Food and Drug Administration approved Vaccine Booster for both Johnson & Johnson’s and Moderna’s Covid vaccinations on Wednesday night, paving the way for the distribution of extra doses to tens of millions of patients.
At the same time, US authorities approved “mixing and matching” vaccinations, allowing Americans to receive a Vaccine booster from a different pharmaceutical company than the one that produced their original dosage.
Dr. Janet Woodcock: Official Statement
“Today’s actions demonstrate our commitment to public health in proactively fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic,” acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said in a statement.
“As the pandemic continues to impact the country, science has shown that vaccination continues to be the safest and most effective way to prevent COVID-19, including the most serious consequences of the disease, such as hospitalization and death,” she added.
Moderna’s And J&J’s Vaccine Booster Data to Be Finalized
The FDA’s approval comes after the agency’s Vaccinations and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee unanimously recommended extra injections of both vaccines last week, as predicted. The committee suggested the Moderna booster for older and at-risk persons six months after they finished their main set of injections, aligning it with Pfizer and BioNTech’s booster distribution strategy. It also recommended J&J Vaccine boosters for anyone aged 18 and above who had their first injection at least two months ago.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its vaccine advisory group will now discuss Moderna’s and J&J’s Vaccine booster data and arrive at a decision soon. If the committee issues a recommendation, eligible people will be immediately qualified for the additional shots for those vaccines.
The approval would allow more than 15 million people who have been vaccinated with J&J’s shots and more than 69 million people who have been fully immunized with Moderna’s vaccine to receive booster doses.
Males Under the Age Of 40 At A Greater Risk?
Following immunization with the Moderna vaccine, the FDA discovered an elevated risk of uncommon inflammatory heart diseases, such as myocarditis and pericarditis, especially after the second dosage. Symptoms usually appear a few days after immunization, according to the report. Males under the age of 40, particularly those aged 18 to 24, are at a greater risk.
Pfizer’s Vaccine boosters were approved for a wide range of Americans less than a month ago, including the elderly, individuals with underlying medical problems, and those who work or live in high-risk environments, such as healthcare and supermarket employees.
Booster injections have long been a divisive issue among scientists, both inside and outside the government because many individuals in the United States and other parts of the globe have yet to receive even one dose of a vaccine. The World Health Organization has urged affluent nations to hold off on giving boosters, and some experts believe most Americans do not require them currently.
