US CDC Advisory Panel Recommends Moderna and Janssen Booster Shots

Moderna for Elderly and High-Risk Groups
Janssen for All Adults Aged 18 and Over
Booster Shot Cross-Vaccination Also Recommended
Only Final Approval from CDC Director Remains

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] An internal advisory panel of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has unanimously approved the recommendation for booster shots (additional doses) of the Moderna and Janssen vaccines.

According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), on the 21st (local time), the CDC advisory panel held a meeting and recommended the use of booster shots for the Moderna and Janssen vaccines with the unanimous agreement of all 15 members.

Following the final approval by the CDC director, the use of Moderna and Janssen vaccine booster shots is expected to officially begin in the United States.

The advisory panel first recommended booster shots for the Moderna vaccine to high-risk groups such as seniors aged 65 and older, nursing home workers, people with underlying health conditions, teachers, and grocery store employees, to be administered six months after the second dose.

The panel recommended that the Moderna booster shot dosage be half of the regular dose.

For the Janssen vaccine, the panel recommended booster shots for all adults aged 18 and older, starting two months after completing the initial vaccination. The dosage for the Janssen booster shot is the same as the first dose.

The panel's recommendation on this day essentially ratified the FDA's emergency use authorization (EUA) decision made the previous day for booster shots of these two vaccines.

Since the CDC director typically accepts the advisory committee's recommendations, the administration of Moderna and Janssen vaccine booster shots is expected to become visible soon.

The advisory panel also recommended mix-and-match booster shots. Accordingly, the CDC is expected to issue clinical guidelines related to mix-and-match vaccinations, which will include considerations to keep in mind when receiving booster shots.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the day before that booster shots can be any of the vaccines authorized in the U.S., regardless of which vaccine was initially administered. In particular, studies have shown that individuals who received the Janssen vaccine and then get a Moderna booster shot experience antibody levels increasing by several dozen times compared to receiving a Janssen booster shot.

U.S. authorities are currently working on expanding vaccine eligibility to minors.

WSJ reported, "The FDA is expected to approve Pfizer vaccine administration for children aged 5 to 11," and "plans are underway to expand booster shot eligibility to those aged 40 and older."