U.S. FDA Clears Pfizer COVID-19 Booster for Older and At-risk Americans

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday authorize a booster dose of the Pfizer Inc and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for those 65 and older, all people at high risk of severe disease, and others who are regularly exposed to the virus. 
• The decision paves the way for a quick rollout of the booster shots as soon as this week for millions of people who had their second dose of the vaccine at least six months ago. 
• The change to the vaccine's emergency use authorization will allow boosters for groups such as health-care workers, teachers and day care staff, grocery workers and those in homeless shelters or prisons, FDA acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock said in a statement. 
• Pfizer had asked the FDA to expand its vaccine approval to include boosters for all people aged 16 and older and presented data last week to an outside FDA panel of advisers that it said showed waning immunity over time. 
• The panel voted against the proposition that boosters were needed by everyone but said evidence showed they were helpful to older people and those at high risk.

(Source: Reuters)