US FDA OKs Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine boosters for some Americans

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster shots Wednesday for adults at high risk of severe illness due to the virus and senior citizens.

The FDA's authorization applies to people aged 62 and older, adults aged 18-64 who have underlying health conditions and adults whose occupations or livelihoods put them at high risk for contracting the virus. That group includes health care workers, teachers and daycare staff, grocery store workers and individuals in homeless shelters or prisons.

"This pandemic is dynamic and evolving, with new data about vaccine safety and effectiveness becoming available every day," Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodstock said in a statement.

"As we learn more about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, including the use of a booster dose, we will continue to evaluate the rapidly changing science and keep the public informed," she added.

The booster shot is to be administered roughly six months after an individual completes the initial two-dose regiment.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still has to lend its final approval, and an advisory panel is expected to vote on the matter as soon as Thursday.