Pfizer, Moderna Announce FDA Endorses COVID Boosters for All Adults

Pfizer, Moderna Announce FDA Endorses COVID Boosters for All Adults

Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna announced Friday that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded emergency use authorization and endorsed boosters of their COVID-19 vaccines for anyone 18 and older.

“As we near the two-year mark in our fight against COVID-19, we have reached another critical milestone with the expanded authorization of a booster dose of our COVID-19 vaccine in individuals 18 years and older,” said Albert Bourla, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Pfizer. “With boosters, more adults will now have the opportunity to help preserve a high-level of protection against this disease. We are grateful to the FDA for their rigorous review, and the action taken today that we hope will help accelerate our path out of this pandemic.”

“This emergency use authorization comes at a critical time as we enter the winter months and face increasing COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations across the country,” said Stéphane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna. “We thank the FDA for their review, and are confident in the robust clinical evidence that a 50 µg booster dose of mRNA-1273 induces a strong immune response against COVID-19.”

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“Why it matters,” reports Axios. “”The move could dramatically increase the number of Americans who are eligible to receive the booster by tens of millions.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's independent committee of vaccine experts is scheduled to meet on Friday. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky will then need to OK the booster shots, according to Axios. 

If the CDC committee green lights the booster, American adults who received a second dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine at least six months ago could begin receiving a booster as early as this weekend.