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Moderna has just made this important announcement about its vaccine! This is what you need to pay attention to now!
Massive change announced at Moderna!
Just a few months ago, booster vaccinations were not even considered in the countries’ COVID vaccination schedule. However, according to the latest data from the health department, more than 30 million people in the U.S. and many people worldwide have now received an additional vaccination. Only certain groups of people are currently eligible to receive a booster shot: The CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have approved an additional dose for Moderna and Pfizer recipients who are 65 and older or younger and at higher risk. However, as more virus experts point out that booster shots are essential to the vaccination process, changes to existing requirements may be forthcoming.
Moderna makes major announcement on its vaccination
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On November 17, Moderna released a statement announcing that it had applied for an extension of emergency approval for its booster vaccine. The vaccine maker is asking the FDA to approve the 50-microgram booster dose for all adults 18 years of age and older once the second vaccination is at least six months old, with no additional requirements.
“The Moderna COVID-19 booster vaccine is approved in many international markets for adults 18 years of age and older regardless of occupational risk factors,” the vaccine maker said in its statement.
Also Biontech/Pfizer with application
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Pfizer/Biontech recently submitted an application to the FDA to expand the scope of approval for the booster vaccine. The agency is seeking to grant that approval as early as Nov. 18, and a CDC committee is scheduled to discuss booster vaccines on Nov. 19, so younger adults could receive a booster shot from Pfizer as early as this weekend, the New York Times reported Nov. 16. And Moderna’s might not be far behind. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said on Nov. 17 that the agency plans to “act quickly” to expand booster doses once the FDA reviews the data and grants approval, according to CNBC.
However, some states are no longer waiting for official guidance from the FDA and CDC. According to ABC News, officials from nine U.S. states have already taken action to offer booster vaccinations either formally or informally to their residents 18 and older: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island and West Virginia.
All should be boosters
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“I was very frustrated with the convoluted messages from the CDC and FDA. ‘Everybody should get boosters after six months,’ Colorado Governor Jared Polis said on CBS News’ Face the Nation on November 14. That’s why my parents got it. I got it. My family members got it.”
Even the top COVID adviser in the White House, Dr. Anthony Fauci, recently said there should no longer be restrictions on adults being allowed to receive an additional vaccination. “Right now, don’t make it complicated,” he told Insider on Nov. 16. “Make it really simple. If you’ve had a primary vaccination, get a booster.”
According to Fauci, most adults who are eligible for a booster vaccination under FDA and CDC guidelines have not yet received it, likely because they are confused about the requirements for a booster. The CDC’s latest data show that only about 15 percent of all fully vaccinated people have received a booster, including only 36 percent of those 65 and older, even though everyone in that age group is eligible.
“We need to boost almost all people who have received the initial vaccination,” Fauci told Insider.
Some health experts have called for more safety data to be released before people who are at higher risk for the rare but severe vaccine reaction myocarditis receive another shot. These include young men under 30 years of age, who are somewhat more likely to develop myocarditis after receiving an mRNA vaccine, and especially after receiving Moderna’s vaccine.
Fauci told Insider it’s important to note “all the safety data suggests that the benefit-risk ratio for younger people” is “still heavily weighted in favor of benefit.” He is confident that booster vaccination will be safe and effective for the vast majority of people.