By Gina DiPietro, Novant Health Healthy Headlines
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Tens of millions of Americans are closer to being eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine booster.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved an emergency use authorization (EUA) on Oct. 21 to administer a booster dose of Moderna’s and Johnson & Johnson’s COVID vaccines to those who qualify.
EUA provides access to medical products that may be effective in preventing or treating a disease – only if it’s determined the potential benefits outweigh any potential risks. The CDC’s vote echoed an earlier decision from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to make boosters eligible.
When the time comes to receive booster shots, Novant Health will inform patients how and where to make an appointment.
Moderna
The CDC endorsed Moderna’s booster for people 65 and older, as well as younger adults at high risk due to medical conditions or jobs that put them more at risk – the same groups who became eligible for a Pfizer-BioNTech booster in September.
Moderna said a third dose was needed because the potency of its vaccine wanes over time, with antibody levels decreasing about six to eight months after the second dose.
Dr. David Priest
The company also cited “real world evidence of reduced effectiveness against the delta variant.” It is common for antibodies to decrease with time, said Dr. David Priest, Novant Health chief safety, quality and epidemiology officer.
“What a third dose does is increase the amount of neutralizing antibodies, making it less likely that someone would have a serious COVID illness that results in hospitalization – or worse,” Priest said.
Those eligible for a Moderna booster will receive a half-dose, administered at least six months after the second vaccine.
Additional research has shown that a half-dose gives an excellent antibody response, so it appears a full dose is not necessary as a third booster for Moderna,” said Dr. Charles Bregier, Novant Health medical director of corporate health.
Johnson & Johnson (Janssen)
The CDC also recommended J&J’s booster dose, saying it should be offered at least two months after immunization. Anyone who got the one-dose vaccine would qualify.
Evidence has suggested that J&J recipients are more vulnerable to infection than people who got vaccines from competitors Pfizer or Moderna— and that most got their single dose many months ago.
Pfizer
Novant Health is currently administering boosters of Pfizer’s COVID vaccine to people who qualify. It’s recommended to wait at least six months after the second dose.
Pfizer’s vaccine, FDA-approved for people 16 and older, already carries EUA for adolescents ages 12 to 15. And later this month, Pfizer’s vaccine will be considered for EUA in kids ages 5 to 11.
Following its clinical trial of more than 2,200 children, the company released data showing its COVID vaccine is safe and effective in this younger age group. The 5- to 11-year-olds received 10 micrograms – one-third of the dose for adults and adolescents, who receive 30 micrograms.
Pfizer is still studying its COVID vaccine in children under 5 years old. A tenth of the adult dose – 3 micrograms – appears “sufficient” so far, experts said.
Moderna and J&J are also studying their vaccines in children but have not yet released the findings.
