FDA Approves Moderna, Pfizer 2nd Vaccine Booster Shots for Over-50s People as New Findings Show Waning Efficacy

FDA finally approved second booster vaccine shots of Moderna and Pfizer to older individuals, especially those over 50 years old.

Aside from them, certain immunocompromised people are also allowed to have their second boosters. The decision, although more than half of the eligible individuals for first vaccine booster shots, still haven't received theirs.

"This action will now make a second booster dose of these vaccines available to other populations at higher risk for severe disease, hospitalization, and death," said the Food and Drug Administration via its official immediate release report.

FDA Approves Moderna, Pfizer 2nd Booster Vaccine Shots

According to NBC News' latest report, only less than a half of booster-eligible individuals were able to receive their first additional vaccine shots.

Some U.S. officials said that persuading people to have their second booster vaccine shots may be hard, saying that they don't see the urgency because hospitalizations and deaths now remain low.

Although this is the case, FDA still pushed its decision to allow second Moderna and Pfizer vaccine shots for older individuals and immunocompromised people.

The health agency said that people over 50s could receive theirs four months after receiving their first COVID-19 vaccine shots.

This also goes to younger people. But why did FDA suddenly announce this decision?

Why is a 2nd Booster Vaccine Dose Needed?

FDA explained that COVID-19 vaccines' efficacy wanes over time. New data shows that this usually happens in older and immunocompromised individuals.

Now, an analysis of emerging health data highly suggests that a second vaccine booster dose is needed to ensure that the efficiency provided by the first vaccine booster shots will be retained.

This detail was shared by FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation Research's Director Dr. Peter Marks.

In other news, free COVID-19 antiviral pills were confirmed to be rolled out in the United States.

Last month, the Biden Admin's free COVID-19 rapid test kits were still available since millions of units were unused.

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Written by: Griffin Davis