After much discussion, ACIP on Thursday voted to recommend single booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for patients 65 and older, LTC residents, and those 18-64 who are at risk due to an underlying medical condition, specifying those 18-49 should take individual benefit and risk into consideration. In all cases, this applies to patients who received their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine at least six months ago. No recommendation was made on occupational or institutional setting risk, a recommendation that was included in the FDA’s authorization. (After the advisory committee action, the CDC Director added this group back in to her official approval, so front-line health care workers and teachers are included.) We expect clarifying details in coming days. Booster shots for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines could be approved within weeks. At this point, the FDA has no data on the safety and efficacy of giving a Pfizer booster to someone who received a different vaccine.
NCPA
