FDA panel unanimously recommends Moderna Covid booster shots for at-risk adults - CNBC

A key Food and Drug Administration advisory committee on Thursday unanimously recommended giving booster shots of Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine to people ages 65 and older and other vulnerable Americans.

The nonbinding decision by the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee would bring guidelines for Moderna in line with third shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

When the FDA committee met last month, they rejected a proposal to distribute booster shots of Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccine to the general public.

Some committee members at the time said they were concerned there wasn't enough data to make a recommendation, while others argued third shots should be limited to certain groups.

Some members said the boosters should prevent so-called breakthrough infections, which they said is critical for protecting health-care institutions from becoming overwhelmed, while other members said the third shots should ensure those at high risk won't suffer from severe disease.

Some committee members also suggested young people may not need boosters, as the initial shots are still holding up in those groups.

She presented data that suggested people who receive a booster dose were less likely to get infected with Covid or become severely sick.

FDA panel unanimously recommends Moderna Covid booster shots for at-risk adults

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