Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccine booster shots for fully vaccinated Americans. CDC also supports the Mix-And-Match Booster Strategy.
Last month, the Food and Drug Administration approved the booster shots for Pfizer-BioNTech shots. On Wednesday, October 20, the F.D.A. gave the green light for a booster shot to those who received the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
Data shows that vaccination remains the best and most effective means of avoiding COVID-19 disease. Dr. Janet Woodcock, the F.D.A. commissioner, stated that the availability of the boosters is essential for continuing protection against COVID-19. She noted that the expansion of the use of booster shots for Moderna and Johnson and Johnson in eligible populations is based on the agency’s data.
On Thursday, the C.D.C. encouraged millions of Americans to get booster shots of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines. Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, the C.D.C. director, stated that the authorized COVID-19 vaccines effectively reduce the severe risk brought by the virus.
CDC members had unanimously backed Covid-19 vaccine boosters on Thursday (Photo: AP)
Mix-and-Match Booster Strategy
The F.D.A. has also authorized the use of heterologous or the Mix-and-Match booster dose for FDA-approved vaccines. Based on the clinical trial result from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, The F.D.A. has concluded that the potential benefits of having a single heterologous booster dose exceed its potential risks. The F.D.A. noted that the administration of booster shots should be after the 2nd dose of the primary vaccines.
On Thursday, the C.D.C.’s panel members supported the mix-and-match strategy, stating that fully vaccinated individuals with one company’s vaccine should be authorized to receive a different vaccine as a booster dose. Based on available data, it suggests that booster shots from either Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccines work better at boosting antibody levels.
It is uncertain as to how many COVID-19 boosters will be required to achieve long-lasting protection. Experts advise that vaccination and booster shots are the best course of action as the COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the country.
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