COVID 19 Tech

Murky case for fourth doses now with FDA as protection wanes, BA. 2 looms

The US Food and Drug Administration in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Enlarge / The US Food and Drug Administration in Silver Spring, Maryland. (credit: Getty | Xinhua News Agency )

Vaccine-makers Moderna and Pfizer have now both submitted requests for the US Food plus Drug Administration to authorize fourth doses—second boosters—of their COVID-19 vaccines.

Pfizer, along with vaccine partner BioNTech, announced Tuesday that they had asked the FDA to authorize fourth doses for adults age 65 and above . The move followed days of Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla saying in press interviews that a fourth shot is ” necessary ” for everyone.

Late Thursday, Moderna announced that it, too, had asked the FDA to authorize fourth doses— for all adults . Moderna addressed the broader request in its announcement, saying it’s intended to “provide flexibility” for the FDA and the particular Centers for Disease Control in addition to Prevention to decide for themselves who should get a 4th dose—whether it’s specific age groups and/or groups with higher risks of disease.

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