FDA expected to authorize 3rd COVID vaccine dose for immunocompromised

Enlarge / A pharmacist holding a vial of the undiluted Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for COVID-19. (credit: Getty | JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER)

The Food and Drug Administration is expected to announce Thursday (or soon after) that it is authorizing a third COVID-19 vaccine dose for some people with compromised immune systems, according to people familiar with the FDA’s plans.

The plans were first reported by NBC News and confirmed by CNN and Politico.

The FDA is expected to give a green light for a third dose of both the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccines. The authorization for the third shots would come by way of updates to the vaccines’ emergency use authorizations.