FDA Greenlights ‘Mix and Match’ COVID Boosters

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“The FDA authorized booster doses of Moderna and Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccines and also authorized a “mix and match” or heterologous approach to boosters for all three available vaccines (including Pfizer’s) in the indicated populations, the agency announced on Wednesday.

Ultimately, the FDA went with what was recommended by their advisory panel, the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), which voted for a half-dose Moderna booster in adults ages 65 and up, adults ages 18-64 at high risk of severe COVID, and adults 18-64 with frequent occupational and institutional exposure to SARS-CoV-2, at least 6 months after completing the primary series.”

Learn more here.

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The Science Supporting the U.S. Case for COVID Boosters

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“U.S. health officials laid out the scientific rationale for a third dose of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines for all U.S. adults on Wednesday, relying on published and unpublished CDC data, as well as a preprint study.

Overall, they said that there is evidence that vaccine effectiveness against infection — both symptomatic and asymptomatic — has been decreasing over time, but that protection against severe disease, hospitalization, and death remains relatively high.

In anticipation of further waning of immunity amid the ongoing Delta variant-fueled surge — which is posing additional challenges — pulling the trigger on booster shots could help the U.S. stay ahead of the virus, they said.”

Read more, here.

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