October 21, 2021 – The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has now authorized booster vaccinations of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccines. Additionally, those who are looking to get the booster shot can now choose which vaccine they want a booster shot of, regardless of their initial vaccination. Opening up the booster options for people could simplify the logistics for pharmacies and clinics.
According to a report by The Washington Post, the booster shots could start to be given by the end of the week, pending a meeting of CDC advisers and a decision by Rochelle Walensky, Director of the CDC. The CDC’s Advisory Committee will likely provide more detailed guidance and “recommend that individuals try to get a booster of the same vaccine as their initial series but allow for mixing and matching.”
Nirav Shah, president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, said ahead of the FDA decision, “If the FDA were to authorize mixing and matching, the ability to provide boosters on the ground and the state and local level would be greatly enhanced. We have advocated for such a policy, and we would uniformly support a policy move by the FDA.”
The ability to mix and match boosters could potentially speed up the booster inoculation process for those that meet the criteria or are immunocompromised. So, if someone received the Johnson & Johnson shot, they can choose to get a booster dose with Modern or Pfizer-BioNTech. Additionally, if someone who has been fully vaccinated with Moderna can get a booster with Johnson & Johnson or Pfizer if they are over 65 years of age or at high risk.
While millions of Americans still haven’t received their first COVID shot, the available boosters will hopefully provide greater immunity for those that are already vaccinated.