The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention followed recommendations from the Food and Drug Administration and approved Emergency Use Authorization for booster shots with the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Moderna boosters would be available six months after the original two-shot dose. J&J boosters can be administered two months after the initial, one-shot dose.
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said, “These recommendations are another example of our fundamental commitment to protect as many people as possible from COVID-19.” She added, “They are all highly effective in reducing the risk of severe disease, hospitalization and death, even in the midst of the widely-circulating delta variant.”
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Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said, “The available data suggests waning immunity in some populations who are fully vaccinated. The availability of these authorized boosters is important for continued protection against COVID-19 disease.”
“I’m not surprised because the second J&J dose is not technically a booster like Pfizer and Moderna at six months are,” said Dr. Jane Kelly, assistant epidemiologist with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. “Originally, J&J was intended as a single dose vaccine, but we’ve since learned it’s more effective as given as a two-dose vaccine.”
The FDA advisory panel still must decide an EUA that would allow children aged five to 11 to be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine. The FDA advisory panel is scheduled to meet Oct. 26 to discuss the company’s application.
Kelly said the advisory panel for the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is not meeting on the question until Nov. 2 and 3.
“That means the soonest we would have official guidelines from the CDC on pediatric COVID-19 vaccinations would be the end of the day on Nov. 3,” she explained. “So, the earliest anyone in the state could begin vaccinating kids aged five through 11 would be Nov. 4.”
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However, the CDC has provided DHEC with planning numbers for the first week the vaccinations would be available for the younger age group. Because of that, South Carolina can start placing orders for vaccine supply to be ready to begin inoculating the children.
The CDC also agreed with the FDA and approved mixing and matching vaccines. For example, someone who completed their original two-shot series with Moderna could decided to have a booster shot with the Pfizer vaccine.
Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said, “We will work to accrue additional data as quickly as possible to further assess the benefits and risks of the use of booster doses in additional populations and plan to update the healthcare community and public with our determination in the coming weeks.”
The Columbia County Health Department has scheduled clinics for both COVID-19 and flu shots. The clinics will be at the office at 1930 William Few Pkwy. on Wednesday, Oct. 27 from 5 – 7:00 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 30, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. and Wednesday, Nov. 3, from 5 – 7:00 p.m.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
