US to offer COVID-19 boosters after 6 months instead of 8

The U.S. will likely offer booster shots for fully vaccinated Americans six months after their last COVID-19 vaccine was administered, instead of the eight-month gap that had been previously announced, a source familiar with the planning process told The Wall Street Journal Aug. 25.

Advertisement

The U.S. said Aug. 18 it is prepared to offer booster shots for all Americans who received two doses of Pfizer or Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine beginning the week of Sept. 20 and starting eight months after an individual’s second dose.

HHS said its plan is contingent upon FDA approval for COVID-19 boosters, which hasn’t been granted yet. The agency amended the emergency use authorizations for Pfizer’s and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines Aug. 12, allowing for a third dose in immunocompromised people, but not yet for the rest of the population.

The day after HHS announced its booster plan, Bloomberg reported the CDC had pushed back its advisory panel meeting to discuss COVID-19 booster shots for the general population by one week, as medical professionals are split over whether the shots are necessary.

The FDA and CDC are reviewing booster data from vaccine makers and other countries, and this data is based on boosters being administered at six months after full vaccination, the source told The Wall Street Journal. 

The source also said approval for boosters manufactured by Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson is expected in mid-September.

Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit

Advertisement

Next Up in Pharmacy

Advertisement

Comments are closed.