The Food and Drug Administration has authorized a second booster dose of the either the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine for older people and certain immunocompromised individuals.
The second booster may be given to people who are 50 and older or immunocompromised at least four months after they received the first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID vaccine. Immunocompromised people must be at least 12 to receive the 2nd Pfizer booster, and at least 18 to get the Moderna.
“Current evidence suggests some waning of protection over time against serious outcomes from COVID-19 in older and immunocompromised individuals. Based on an analysis of emerging data, a second booster dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine could help increase protection levels for these higher-risk individuals,” said Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “Additionally, the data show that an initial booster dose is critical in helping to protect all adults from the potentially severe outcomes of COVID-19. So, those who have not received their initial booster dose are strongly encouraged to do so.”
The plan comes as BA.2, an even more contagious version of the omicron variant, continues to spread in the U.S., and concern mounts that it could fuel another surge. BA.2 is now the dominant strain in the U.S., making up 54.9% of cases, according to the CDC.
“We have a large number of people who are at least four to six months past their third shot,” says Dr. Eric Topol, founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, who supports the move.
“Without protection against the omicron variant, particularly now we’re confronting BA.2, there’s a very high risk of hospitalization and death,” he says.
But others question the plan. The vaccines are still doing a good job of protecting people from getting seriously ill. Critics say there just isn’t enough evidence yet that another shot is needed and that it would provide stronger protection that would last.
“From a scientific perspective, we still don’t have definitive evidence that giving a second booster dose is the right way to go in older people,” says Dr. Celine Gounder, an infectious disease specialist and a senior fellow and editor at Kaiser Health News.
She says data out of Israel shows an additional booster dose does reduce the risk of severe disease, hospitalization and death for people over the age of 60. But she points out it’s unclear how long that extra protection actually lasts.
“I don’t think it hurts,” Dr. Carlos del Rio, an infectious disease researcher at Emory University told NPR. “But the reality is the benefit against infection will be short lived and thus likely of little benefit for most people.” He also cites the Israeli data showing benefits for those 60 and older.
Administration officials say it’s important to give people the option of a second booster as quickly as possible. The plan to offer it to people younger than 60 was made to ensure that more vulnerable people, particularly people of color who are more likely to suffer other health problems that put them at risk, also have the option of an additional booster.
But other infectious disease specialists say the administration should be focusing on getting people their primary doses and first boosters.
“What concerns me is that we are not investing in increasing the coverage of booster doses and even the primary doses,” says Dr. Saad Omer, the director of the Yale Institute for Global Health. “These are the things that are not receiving enough attention.”
Unlike previous authorizations, the FDA is not expected to make the 2nd booster a recommendation for everyone, but rather an option for those who want it.
9(MDAyMTgwNzc5MDEyMjQ4ODE4MjMyYTExMA001))
Transcript :
RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:
The Biden administration is expected to authorize a second COVID-19 vaccine booster shot for anyone age 50 and older. NPR health correspondent Rob Stein says the decision is surprising and controversial.
ROB STEIN, BYLINE: The Food and Drug Administration plan would authorize a second booster of the Pfizer-BionNTech and Moderna vaccines for anyone age 50 and older within days. The plan comes as evidence is increasing that the protection from three shots is fading and another shot would help boost immunity back up and as concern is mounting that an even more contagious version of the omicron variant, known as BA.2, could fuel yet another surge. Dr. Eric Topol at Scripps Research is among those welcoming the plan.
ERIC TOPOL: We have a large number of people who are at least 4 to 6 months past when they got the third shot. And we know there’s considerable waning. Without protection against the omicron variant, particularly now we’re confronting BA.2, there’s a very high risk of hospitalizations and death.
STEIN: But others question the plan. The vaccines are still doing a good job keeping most people from getting seriously ill. And critics say there just isn’t enough evidence yet that another shot is needed and would provide stronger protection that would last. They’re especially surprised another booster would be offered to people as young as age 50, especially when so many people still haven’t gotten their first shots or first boosters. Other countries are only offering extra boosters for older people. Here’s Saad Omer at Yale.
SAAD OMER: What concerns me is that we are not investing in increasing the coverage of booster doses and even the primary doses. These are the things that are not receiving enough attention.
STEIN: Many are especially concerned that a decision would be made without an open public discussion of the pros and cons and input from outside independent advisers. But the administration apparently decided it’s important to make another booster an option as quickly as possible in case another surge occurs and is looking to offer it to younger ages to make sure people of color who are most likely to suffer other health problems that put them at risk also have the option. Rob Stein, NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.