Booster shot rejected for most Americans

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ASPartOfMe
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17 Sep 2021, 4:45 pm

US panel backs COVID-19 boosters only for elderly, high-risk

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Dealing the White House a stinging setback, a government advisory panel overwhelmingly rejected a plan Friday to give Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots across the board, and instead endorsed the extra dose only for those who are 65 or older or run a high risk of severe disease.

The twin votes represented a heavy blow to the Biden administration’s sweeping effort, announced a month ago, to shore up nearly all Americans’ protection amid the spread of the highly contagious delta variant.

The decision was made by an influential committee of outside experts who advise the Food and Drug Administration.

In a surprising turn, the panel rejected, by a vote of 16-2, boosters for almost everyone. Members cited a lack of safety data on extra doses and also raised doubts about the value of mass boosters, rather than ones targeted to specific groups.

Then, in an 18-0 vote, it endorsed the extra shot for select portions of the U.S. population — namely, those most at risk from the virus.

riday’s vote was just the first step in the process. The FDA itself is expected to make a decision on boosters in the next few days, but it usually follows the committee’s recommendations.

The offering of boosters is also subject to approval by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A CDC advisory panel is expected to take up the question on Wednesday. The CDC has said it is considering boosters for older people, nursing home residents and front-line health care workers, rather than all adults.

Separate FDA and CDC decisions will be needed in order for people who received the Moderna or J&J shots to get boosters.

Scientists inside and outside the government have been divided in recent days over the need for boosters and who should get them, and the World Health Organization has strongly objected to rich nations giving a third round of shots when poor countries don’t have enough vaccine for their first.

While research suggests immunity levels in those who have been vaccinated wane over time and boosters can reverse that, the Pfizer vaccine is still highly protective against severe illness and death, even amid the spread of the highly contagious delta variant.

The FDA panel’s overwhelming initial rejection came despite full-throated arguments about the need for boosters from both Pfizer and health officials from Israel, which began offering boosters to its citizens in July.

Sharon Alroy-Preis of Israel’s Ministry of Health said the booster dose improves protection tenfold against infection in people 60 and older.

“It’s like a fresh vaccine,” bringing protection back to original levels and helping Israel “dampen severe cases in the fourth wave,” she said.

And representatives for Pfizer argued that it is important to shore up immunity before protection against severe disease starts to erode. A company study of 44,000 people showed effectiveness against symptomatic COVID-19 was 96% two months after the second dose, but had dropped to 84% by around six months.

Both Pfizer and the Israeli representatives faced pushback from panelists. Several were skeptical about the relevance of Israel’s experience to the U.S. Another concern was whether third doses would exacerbate serious side effects.

Some Americans, healthy or not, have managed to get boosters, in some cases simply by showing up and asking for a shot. And some health systems already are offering extra doses to high-risk people.

I am disappointed as I was willing to take the risk. I am six months out from my 2nd shot and a year short of age 65. I did have chemo but that was six years ago so my immunity should be back. There is some evidence that those of us with developmental disabilities are at higher risk of a fatal outcome. That said I am skeptical of that study because it does not separate developmental disabilities from Intellectual disabilities and the higher rates may very well be from living in group homes rather then DD. However I will play the Autism card to get a booster if that option is available. After seeing what went on this summer I am worried about this winter with a lot of indoor gatherings and vaccine efficacy waning.


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HeroOfHyrule
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17 Sep 2021, 4:53 pm

I hope I can still get a booster shot when the time comes. I have asthma, and even with a flu shot the flu wipes me out + has given me symptoms of pneumonia before. Since COVID is much worse I can't imagine how crappy getting COVID (especially the delta variant) would be as my immunity wanes over the coming months.



Fnord
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17 Sep 2021, 4:54 pm

ASPartOfMe wrote:
US panel backs COVID-19 boosters only for elderly, high-risk
Does "elderly" include people 60 and over?


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DW_a_mom
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17 Sep 2021, 5:14 pm

Fnord wrote:
ASPartOfMe wrote:
US panel backs COVID-19 boosters only for elderly, high-risk
Does "elderly" include people 60 and over?


It says 65 or older.


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DW_a_mom
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17 Sep 2021, 5:18 pm

From the article:

Quote:
Some Americans, healthy or not, have managed to get boosters, in some cases simply by showing up and asking for a shot. And some health systems already are offering extra doses to high-risk people.


Remember that the Pfizer and Moderna shots require a certain amount be thawed daily for administration. At the end of the day, if what was thawed was not all used, it has to get tossed. Show up at the end of the day and ask for a booster, and you will probably get it.


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