Posted on 08/17/21
| News Source: i24
First boosters likely to go to nursing home residents, health care workers, followed by other older people
The administration of US President Joe Biden plans to begin administering COVID-19 booster shots to Americans as early as mid or late September, pending authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to multiple media reports.
Health officials in the Biden administration reportedly gathered round the view that most people should get a booster shot eight months after they completed their initial vaccination.
Officials are reportedly planning to announce the administration's decision as early as this week, with the first boosters likely to go to nursing home residents and health care workers, followed by other older people.
US regulators on Friday authorized a third dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to people with compromised immune systems, with the FDA amending its emergency use authorization for both vaccines on Thursday.
Federal health officials are reportedly looking at the Israeli model for how to plan distribution of the booster shot.
Israel had initially made the booster shot available to immunocompromised individuals before expanding the third vaccine dose to older adults over the age of 60 and then lowering the eligibility age to 50 plus.
So far in the campaign, over one million Israelis have been jabbed with the booster shot.