Coronavirus booster shots for people under the age of 50 pending in a drive to speed up new vaccines

For the modified booster, Omicron subvariant BA.4 and BA.5, and the original formula It is based on a version of the virus that was widespread worldwide in early 2020. Redesigned boosters are expected to be more effective in combating evolving viruses.

FDA Advisor in late June Recommended Remodeled booster with Omicron components, distributor Instructions Manufacturer to do so. Both companies have indicated that they will probably deliver a new shot in October. But since then, authorities have urged the company to move faster when making shots. Authorities are unlikely to allow people under the age of 50 to receive a second dose of the current booster if the new booster becomes available between early and mid-September, officials said.

No final decision has been made. Authorities are waiting for information from manufacturers as to whether there is a sufficient supply of represcription shots if the fall campaign begins earlier than expected. The decision is expected within a few days.

The FDA said it is assessing the current situation, including data showing increased hospitalizations, and will make booster decisions based on all available evidence.

Moderna spokesman Chris Ridley said the company is working to accelerate the supply of represcription vaccines “to meet the needs and public health requirements of regulators around the world.” .. Pfizer declined to comment on the decision on the vaccine to be administered.

Currently, the second coronavirus booster target group is limited to people over the age of 50 and people over the age of 12 with impaired immune systems.

Early this month, Government officials are considering plans to allow all adults to receive a second booster to slow the outbreak of viruses caused by more infectious Omicron subvariants such as BA He said he was. Avoid some immune protection 5 Increased risk of reinfection..

White House Coronavirus Coordinator Ashishger and White House Chief Medical Advisor Anthony S. Forch supported making booster shots more widely available this summer and called for a swift decision. .. However, FDA chief vaccine officer Peter Markes had some concerns, officials said.

As the debate is dragged in late July, authorities are increasingly closing windows to encourage young adults to now receive their second booster shot and reorganized shots later this year. I became worried.

Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Friday Washington Post Live Her agency is discussing a second booster for all adults with the FDA, which is ultimately the FDA’s decision.

“To allow people under the age of 50 to receive a fourth dose, action from the FDA is required,” Walensky said. “In the meantime, another thing we’re doing is planning the fall and understanding what its implications are and where we’re going in the fall about six weeks away.”

Some outside experts have approved the idea of ​​allowing all adults to receive a second dose of the current booster, especially because the protection provided by the first booster is weakened. It will also allow the Biden administration to use vaccine doses that have reached the expiration date, otherwise it will be discarded.

However, other experts warned that a second dose of the current booster would not bring significant benefits and could do some harm. Paul A. Offit, director of the Philadelphia Children’s Hospital’s Vaccine Education Center and FDA’s external adviser, recently experienced a phenomenon called “imprinting” in which repeated doses of the same vaccine develop the individual’s immune system. Said it could happen. It is a very targeted response to previous versions of the virus and cannot adapt as the virus evolves.

The federal government has agreed to buy 105 million doses Pfizer-BioNTech Reboot Vaccine For $ 3.2 billion. The vaccine was $ 19.50 per dose, a premium of $ 30.50 per dose over the original government contract for the original vaccine in 2020.

The government will soon sign a contract with Moderna.