Scientific advisers to the United States Food and Drug Administration voted not to suggest coronavirus Pfizer vaccine third dose for most Americans, a possible significant blow to the Biden government after it announced a strategy to boost adults before advisory committees had a chance to evaluate scientific evidence in public.
Dr. Arnold Monto, the committee chair and the University of Michigan epidemiologist continued discussions after the vote. Sixteen of the eighteen advisers opposed the extensive proposal for COVID-19 vaccine boosters for those older than sixteen, even as some members believed there is a role for a third shot.
A 3rd friggin shot?!? How much “boosting” until the experiment works? At least they said no. Probably because of the 💰. ⤵️
“FDA advisers vote against Pfizer booster shots for the general population” https://t.co/GsUQQFstzx— THATISABSURDITY.COM (@AuthorofAbsurd) September 17, 2021
After the preliminary no vote, the committee suggested a much small number of American nationals receive booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine at least half a year after their first shots, this time under emergency use approval rather than full approval. Moreover, the eighteen-member panel consistently advised a third dose to Americans older than sixty-five and at high risk of severe illness due to the virus.
Because of the emergency use approval, research will possibly continue on third doses as the Pfizer vaccine works to achieve full approval. Afterward, the adviser panel further clarified the emergency use approval should include health workers and those Americans at high risk of work-related coronavirus exposure. The FDA’s decision about vaccines and its related biological products advisory committee is not binding, but the Food and Drug Authority usually follows its advice.
Source: Web
Background of Recommending Booster Doses in America
The decision from the FDA came after significant public scientific opposition came about a booster shot. Much of the statistics favored Israel, while figures were less on whether a third dose could help protect individuals against death and hospitalization. A member and associate professor of microbiology and immunology at the Medical School University of Michigan, A Oveta Fuller, said that there are several questions for him to feel ok to say yes to the approval; he summed up the views of many voting members.
Another committee member, a Harvard assistant professor of microbiology and molecular genetics, Dr. Eric Rubin, said he strongly suspects the COVID-19 vaccine will be low-risk. Further, he adds that he will not be comfortable giving it to a sixteen-year-old for all the reasons everybody raised. Pfizer submitted safety statistics on only about three hundred adults aged eighteen to fifty-five who received a third dose, a sample size many members said was too small.
In addition, the decision of the FDA throws the Biden government’s plan doubtful to provide vaccine booster shots. Governmental officials haven’t recommended third shots for Americans who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, though they still may. All corona vines currently available in the United States are highly efficient against severe illness, hospitalization, and death from the virus. Questions of FDA committee members about declining vaccine immunity have a tendency to focus on how effective vaccines remain against preventing coronavirus infection, spread, and prevention on mild to moderate illness.
On the other hand, scientists said they had trouble supporting the Pfizer request for booster shots for most American nationals for reasons including heart inflammation, the risk of myocarditis, and questions about whether booster doses are confined to older Americans.
Read also: FDA Opposed US Coronavirus Booster Shot Plan
