An influential federal advisory panel overwhelmingly rejected a plan to give Pfizer booster vaccines against COVID-19 to most Americans, but did endorse additional injections for those 65 or older, or those at risk of developing. a grave picture.
The two votes dealt a severe blow to the initiative of the administration of President Joe Biden to strengthen the protection of almost all Americans against the contagious delta variant.
The decision was made by a committee of outside experts who advise the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In a surprising move, the panel first rejected, by 16 votes in favor and 2 against, the application of reinforcements for almost everyone. Members noted the lack of data on the safety of additional doses and also raised questions about the value of massive boosters, rather than those targeting specific groups.
Then, in a vote of 18 in favor and 0 against, they endorsed the additional doses for certain sectors of the United States population, specifically the people who are most at risk from the virus.
This would help save part of the White House campaign, but it would still be a big step back from the huge plan proposed by the government a month ago to offer both Pfizer and Moderna booster vaccines to nearly all Americans eight months later. having received your second dose.
Friday’s vote was only the first step. The FDA itself is expected to make a decision on boosters in the next few days, although it often follows the committee’s recommendations.
The booster offer is also subject to approval by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
An advisory panel from this body is expected to take up the issue on Wednesday. The CDC has said it is weighing reinforcement for the elderly, nursing home residents and front-line health workers, rather than all adults.
Separate decisions from the FDA and CDC will be required before people who received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines can receive boosters.
During several hours of spirited debate on Friday, panel members questioned the value of offering reinforcements to nearly everyone over the age of 16.
“I don’t think a booster dose is going to contribute significantly to controlling the pandemic,” said Dr. Cody Meissner of Tufts University. “And I think it is important that the main message we convey is that we have to apply two doses to everyone.”
CDC’s Dr. Amanda Cohn said: “Right now it is clear that the unvaccinated are driving transmission in the United States.”
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