<p>Moderna has asked federal regulators to authorize booster shots of its coronavirus vaccine for all adults, a request that the Food and Drug Administration could grant as early as this week along with a similar request from Pfizer, according to people familiar with the planning.</p>.<p>If the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also signs off, every adult who was fully vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna shot at least six months ago would not only be eligible for a booster but could choose which vaccine. The agency’s committee of independent experts is set to meet Friday to discuss booster shots.</p>.<p>It would also allow President Joe Biden to fulfill his August pledge to offer booster shots to every adult — nearly two months later than the administration originally planned, though, and amid an ongoing debate among experts over whether extra shots are necessary for younger, healthy adults.</p>.<p>As it now stands, only people 65 or older or considered at special risk because of their medical conditions, jobs or living environments are eligible for boosters of the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines. Anyone who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson shot can already get a booster of any of the three vaccines, at least two months after their first injection.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/business/business-news/vaccine-hesitancy-big-threat-for-india-says-serum-institutes-adar-poonawalla-1051865.html" target="_blank">Vaccine hesitancy big threat for India, says Serum Institute's Adar Poonawalla</a></strong></p>.<p>By some estimates, the existing eligibility categories, which are broad but complicated, cover up to 70% of adults. More than 30 million Americans, or about 16% of those fully vaccinated, have already gotten additional shots. But under the federal rules, tens of millions more are still ineligible.</p>.<p>Even if federal regulators do not act on Moderna’s request this week, the FDA and the CDC are expected to allow all fully vaccinated adults access to Pfizer’s booster.</p>.<p>Moderna’s vaccine is considered more protective than Pfizer-BioNTech’s; its dose for the initial two shots is 100 micrograms, while Pfizer’s is 30. Regulators authorized a half-dose of Moderna as a booster for older people and other vulnerable groups, in part to mitigate concerns about side effects; Moderna is seeking the same half-dose booster for the broader adult population.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
<p>Moderna has asked federal regulators to authorize booster shots of its coronavirus vaccine for all adults, a request that the Food and Drug Administration could grant as early as this week along with a similar request from Pfizer, according to people familiar with the planning.</p>.<p>If the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also signs off, every adult who was fully vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna shot at least six months ago would not only be eligible for a booster but could choose which vaccine. The agency’s committee of independent experts is set to meet Friday to discuss booster shots.</p>.<p>It would also allow President Joe Biden to fulfill his August pledge to offer booster shots to every adult — nearly two months later than the administration originally planned, though, and amid an ongoing debate among experts over whether extra shots are necessary for younger, healthy adults.</p>.<p>As it now stands, only people 65 or older or considered at special risk because of their medical conditions, jobs or living environments are eligible for boosters of the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines. Anyone who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson shot can already get a booster of any of the three vaccines, at least two months after their first injection.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/business/business-news/vaccine-hesitancy-big-threat-for-india-says-serum-institutes-adar-poonawalla-1051865.html" target="_blank">Vaccine hesitancy big threat for India, says Serum Institute's Adar Poonawalla</a></strong></p>.<p>By some estimates, the existing eligibility categories, which are broad but complicated, cover up to 70% of adults. More than 30 million Americans, or about 16% of those fully vaccinated, have already gotten additional shots. But under the federal rules, tens of millions more are still ineligible.</p>.<p>Even if federal regulators do not act on Moderna’s request this week, the FDA and the CDC are expected to allow all fully vaccinated adults access to Pfizer’s booster.</p>.<p>Moderna’s vaccine is considered more protective than Pfizer-BioNTech’s; its dose for the initial two shots is 100 micrograms, while Pfizer’s is 30. Regulators authorized a half-dose of Moderna as a booster for older people and other vulnerable groups, in part to mitigate concerns about side effects; Moderna is seeking the same half-dose booster for the broader adult population.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>