US Health Authorities Expand Booster Shot Eligibility to All Adults Aged 18 and Over

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] On the 19th (local time), U.S. health authorities recommended that all adults aged 18 and over receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot (additional vaccination).

CNN reported that Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recommended on the same day that all adults receive the COVID-19 vaccine booster shot.

Director Walensky's decision approved the recommendation made earlier that day by the CDC advisory committee, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which unanimously voted to recommend booster shots for all U.S. adults who had completed the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine series at least six months prior. Earlier, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had granted emergency use authorization for Pfizer and Moderna booster shots for all adults aged 18 and over.

As a result, the eligibility criteria for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots in the U.S., which had been complicated based on vaccine type, age, health status, and occupation, have been simplified to include all adults. Accordingly, it is expected that all adults will begin receiving booster shots in earnest starting the weekend of the 20th.

Going forward, all adults can receive a booster shot six months after completing Pfizer or Moderna vaccination, and two months after receiving the Janssen vaccine. However, regardless of federal health authority recommendations, some regions such as Arkansas, California, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and New York City have effectively already allowed booster shots for all adults.

The CDC advisory committee received safety data from the CDC, Pfizer, and Moderna on the same day, confirming that Pfizer and Moderna booster shots do not cause concerning side effects. The most common side effects were pain at the injection site, headache, and fatigue.

The CDC also recommended that not only those eligible for booster shots but also people who have not yet been vaccinated should start receiving COVID-19 vaccinations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.