The decision comes as BA.2 becomes the dominant variant in the United States, accounting for around 55% of all new cases, according to data from the CDC.
Pfizer had requested an FDA authorization for people 65 and older while Moderna requested for people 18 and older. But the FDA opted to set age 50 as the benchmark for the fourth dose.
“Current evidence suggests some waning of protection over time against serious outcomes from COVID-19 in older and immunocompromised individuals,” said Peter Marks, MD, PhD, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “Based on an analysis of emerging data, a second booster dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine could help increase protection levels for these higher-risk individuals.”
Marks cited data from Israel that showed a 78% reduction in death rates in people 60 and above who received a second booster after at least four months from the initial booster shot.
The CDC and FDA will continue to evaluate the need of a fourth dose for all Americans. However, White House officials are unsure whether and when the fourth dose can be extended to younger age groups as federal funding is running low.
Jeff Zients, White House COVID-19 response coordinator, said at press conference last week that the administration does not have enough vaccine supply to provide all Americans second boosters or potential variant-specific vaccines should they be necessary.
“If the science shows that fourth doses are needed for the general population later this year, we will not have the supply necessary to ensure shots are available, free, and easy to access for all Americans,” Zients said.
Due to a lack of funding from Congress, the White House will soon discontinue some of its coronavirus response efforts, including its reimbursement program for testing and treatment of uninsured patients, according to Xavier Becerra, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
The Uninsured Program will stop accepting new claims for vaccination services around the first week of April. The administration has also canceled some new orders of monoclonal antibody treatments, which are projected to run out in May.
The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.
