health authorities - backed by their scientific advisers - had questioned the need for such a widespread campaign. The Biden administration had originally planned on boosters for all adults but until now, U.S. Teen boosters aren't yet under discussion, and kid-sized doses of Pfizer's vaccine are just now rolling out to children ages 5 to 11. Experts say that's reassuring as seniors are at particularly high risk from COVID-19 and were among the first in line for initial vaccinations
More than 32 million already have received a booster, a large proportion - 17 million - people 65 or older. More than 195 million Americans are now fully vaccinated, defined as having received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or the single-dose J&J. last December, about a year after the coronavirus first emerged. People are going inside more and, ‘oops,’ next week happens to be the largest travel week of the year, so it probably makes sense to do whatever we can here to try to turn the tide,” Marks told the AP. In the U.S., COVID-19 diagnoses have climbed steadily over the last three weeks, especially in states where colder weather already has driven people indoors.Īnd about a dozen states didn't wait for federal officials to act before opening boosters to all adults. and many countries in Europe also are grappling with how widely to recommend boosters as they fight a winter wave of new cases. continue to offer strong protection against severe illness, including hospitalization and death, without a booster.īut protection against infection can wane with time, and the U.S. All three COVID-19 vaccines used in the U.S. 1 priority for the U.S., and the world, still is to get more unvaccinated people their first doses. The expansion makes tens of millions more Americans eligible for an extra dose of protection. The CDC also put out a plea for those who had previously qualified but hadn't yet signed up for a booster to quit putting it off - saying older Americans and people with risks such as obesity, diabetes or other health problems should try to get one before the holidays. “I want to make sure we provide as much protection as we can.” Matthew Daley of Kaiser Permanente Colorado.
“It’s a stronger recommendation,” said CDC adviser Dr. Rochelle Walensky endorsed a recommendation from her agency's scientific advisers that - in addition to offering all adults a booster - had stressed that people 50 and older should be urged to get one. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had to agree before the new policy became official late Friday. 6 Committee Prepares to Go Public as Findings Mount