FDA approves Moderna, J&J and “mixed” COVID-19 vaccine boosters
Specifically, the agency approved a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine that may be administered at least 6 months after completion of the primary series to individuals 65 years of age and older, 18 through 64 years of age at high risk of severe COVID-19, and 18 through 64 of age with frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2.
The FDA also approved the use of a single booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to be administered at least 2 months after completion of the single-dose primary regimen to individuals 18 years old and older.
In addition, the FDA said it approved the use of each of the available COVID-19 vaccines as a heterologous (or “mix and match”) booster dose in eligible individuals following completion of primary vaccination with a different available COVID-19 vaccine.
The next step in the process: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will consider whether to recommend the booster vaccines.
The COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer already has been approved by both the FDA and the CDC for use in the same groups as the Moderna vaccine.