FDA Approves Booster COVID-19 Shots for All Adults, CDC Also Endorses Boosters

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved both the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 booster shots for all adults ages 18 and older. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also endorsed booster shots for all adults. Once CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH, officially signs off on the recommendation, booster shots will become immediately available just before the Thanksgiving holiday. Previously, the booster shots were only recommended for those age 65 and older, adults with comorbidities that increase the risk of serious COVID-19-related illness, and adults who live and/or work in high-risk settings. The Pfizer booster is the same as its COVID-19 vaccine, while Moderna’s booster is about half of the original vaccine dosage. Individuals who received two doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines can seek a booster shot 6 months after their second shot, while those who received the one-dose vaccine from Johnson & Johnson only need to wait 2 months before getting a booster shot. Adults can choose to receive a booster from either Pfizer or Moderna, regardless of which vaccine they initially received. Click here to read more.