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FDA shortens Moderna booster wait time to 5 months for adults


A healthcare worker prepares a syringe with Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at a pop-up vaccination site operated by SOMOS Community Care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Manhattan, New York City, January 29, 2020. 2021.

Mike Segar | Reuters

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday allowed adults 18 years of age and older to be vaccinated Moderna for a booster injection five months after the second dose, shortening the wait time by one month.

Earlier this week, the FDA allowed everyone 12 years of age and older to receive Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine for a booster dose at least five months after the second dose, down from six.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initially recommended the Moderna boosters for adults in October. The CDC downgraded the Pfizer boosters for people 12 years of age and older on Wednesday.

Moderna and Pfizer are the most commonly used vaccines in the U.S. The shorter wait time for boosters comes as data shows that two doses do not provide strong protection against infection. symptomatic infection from omicrons, the dominant variant in the US, although they still offer good protection. against serious illness.

Real-life data from the UK shows boosters are up to 75% effective at preventing symptomatic infections due to omicrons two weeks after injection, according to a report published last week from the Agency. UK Health Security.

“Vaccination is our best defense against COVID-19, including circulating variants, and shortening the time between completion of a primary series and a booster dose could help reduce weakened immunity,” said Dr. Peter Marks, head of the FDA team responsible for ensuring vaccine safety.

Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel, in an interview at a Goldman Sachs event yesterday, said a fourth dose may be needed at some point because of the protection offered by the rockets. thrust is also likely to decrease over time.

“I’d be surprised when we get that data in the coming weeks that it holds up well over time – I expect it won’t be very good,” Bancel said, referring to the strength of the surge hits. strong.

The UK Health Security Agency found that enhanced protection started to decline after about four weeks. The booster was 55% to 70% effective at preventing infection at weeks five to nine and 40% to 50% effective for 10 weeks after injection.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla told CNBC last month that people may need a fourth dose and may need it earlier than expected due to omicron’s virulence.

The US is facing an unprecedented wave of Covid infections, with an average of more than 600,000 new cases per day over seven days, according to an analysis of CNBC data from Johns Hopkins University. That’s a 72% increase from the previous week and a pandemic record.

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