The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday authorized a second booster of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna for adults 50 years and older, announcing that a fourth shot improves protection against severe Covid-19.
The agency also authorized a second Pfizer-BioNTech booster for immunocompromised children older than 12 and a second Moderna booster for immunocompromised adults over 18 years old.
“Current evidence suggests some waning of protection over time against serious outcomes from Covid-19 in older and immunocompromised individuals,” said Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, in a statement.
“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.”
Pfizer says additional booster is “necessary”
Earlier in March, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said that it will be necessary to receive an additional fourth booster shot against Covid-19.