The Food and Drug Administration authorized Covid-19 vaccine booster shots for people with weakened immune systems, a highly anticipated move intended

FDA permits Covid vaccine booster shots for people with weakened immune systems

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2021-08-13 11:30:03

The Food and Drug Administration authorized Covid-19 vaccine booster shots for people with weakened immune systems, a highly anticipated move intended to shield some of the most vulnerable Americans from the highly contagious delta variant.

"Today's action allows doctors to boost immunity in certain immunocompromised individuals who need extra protection from COVID-19," acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said in a statement.

The agency said organ transplant recipients and people who are similarly immunocompromised can receive a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines. The FDA also emphasized that other fully vaccinated people are "adequately protected" and currently do not need an extra dose.

The FDA OK is not the final go-ahead. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine advisory committee has scheduled a meeting Friday to consider shots for immunocompromised Americans. If they issue a recommendation and it is approved by the CDC, third shots could begin immediately.

White House chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said last week that federal health officials were speeding regulatory efforts to clear third doses for such people, including cancer and HIV patients or those who have had organ transplants. He said new data suggested they don't produce an adequate immune response after receiving two doses of a Covid vaccine.