FDA Advisory Panel Recommends COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot For Elderly & Vulnerable

On Friday, the advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted to recommend emergency use authorization of a booster shot of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for people six months after full vaccination who are either 65 and older or those at high risk of severe symptoms.

The Friday decision, voted by the members of the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, was made as the panel rejected a sweeping measure to authorize booster shots of Pfizer’s vaccines in adults 16 and older six months after they are fully vaccinated.

Members of the committee have complained about the lack of data for accurate analysis on the vaccine’s efficacy and safety of the booster shot.

Following the panel’s recommendation Friday, the CDC advised state health authorities not to start administering booster shots until the official vote, which is set next week.