Pfizer and BioNTech will likely seek an emergency use authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a third dose of their mRNA vaccine for all US adults 18 and older, the Washington Post reports.
The FDA would be able to consider the request without reconvening a panel of outside experts, as was done earlier this fall, when the agency voted to recommend boosters for adults 65 and older and several other categories of recipients. If the FDA agrees to a universal Pfizer booster, shots could be offered before Thanksgiving.
Currently, at least 69% of adult US Pfizer vaccine recipients qualify for a booster dose. But new data from Israel—the first country to immunize a large percentage of its population with the Pfizer vaccine—suggest that waning immunity affects all recipients, regardless of age.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's COVID Data Tracker shows that 58.5% of Americans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, 67.5% have received at least one dose of vaccine, and 13.1% of fully vaccinated Americans have received a booster shot. More than 70% of adults are now fully vaccinated.
Pfizer's two-dose vaccine is the only vaccine approved for use in Americans ages 5 and up.
Boosters could protect during holidays
If approved, the boosters could help Americans safety celebrate the upcoming holiday season. Though the late summer and early fall surge of COVID-19 cases caused by the Delta (B1617.2) variant is waning in most of the country, some states, including Minnesota, Colorado, Arizona and Vermont, have tracked increases.
The United States reported 125,350 new COVID-19 cases yesterday and 1,207 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 tracker. The 7-day average of new daily cases is 73,875, with 1,226 daily deaths, according to the New York Times tracker.
And for the 13th consecutive week, more than 100,000 pediatric COVID-19 cases were reported, according to the latest update from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
More than 107,000 child COVID-19 cases were reported from Oct 28 to Nov 4.
Americans still confused on vaccines, poll shows
More than three quarters (78%) of US adults either believe or aren't sure about at least one of eight false statements about COVID-19 or COVID-19 vaccines, according to the latest survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Thirty-eight percent of people polled said the government is exaggerating the number of COVID-19 deaths, while 18% said they believe deaths due to the vaccine are being intentionally obscured by the government. Another 17% said pregnant women should not get the vaccine, while 14% said ivermectin is a safe treatment for the virus.
Among unvaccinated Americans who were polled, two-thirds (64%) believe or are uncertain about four or more false statements about the virus. And 84% of vaccinated and unvaccinated Republicans said they believe the government is exaggerating COVID-19 deaths.
Other US developments
- The White House said Monday that businesses with more than 100 employees should move forward with the federal vaccine mandate despite a court-ordered pause, CNBC reports. The Biden administration also asked the 5th Circuit court of appeals to lift the pause, arguing that it could cost dozens or even hundreds of lives per day.
- The number of Boeing employees seeking a COVID-19 vaccine exemption on religious or medical grounds has reached more than 11,000, or nearly 9% of its US workforce, Reuters reported yesterday.
- More than 70% of Americans give their local schools good marks for balancing public health and safety with other priorities, according to the latest Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index. Other findings from the poll suggest that Americans are less worried than before about COVID risks and feel the Delta variant is behind them.
