FDA to approve COVID-19 booster injections for immunocompromised: report

Federal health officials are expected to allow booster injections of the COVID-19 vaccine soon for people with weakened immune systems, although other members of the Biden administration say the additional injections may not be necessary, according to a report.

The Food and Drug Administration is expected to review new data from the Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention over the next two weeks and move quickly to clearance, The Washington Post reported, citing anonymous federal officials.

Data from the CDC supports the use of additional vaccines, especially for the immunocompromised, to boost immunity against the Delta variant, according to the report.

If the data persuades FDA officials as expected that the booster injections would be helpful, then the FDA would change the emergency use authorizations for the vaccines to allow the use of additional injections, according to the report.

Once the EUAs are changed, an advisory board to the CDC would then urge people with underlying conditions and weakened immune systems to see their doctor or pharmacist for an additional injection, the outlet said.

But the report comes amid mixed messages from other federal health officials.

The head of the National Institutes of Health said Monday there was no reason to believe at this point Americans will need to be vaccinated.

“I would say that at this time, there is no evidence that we need to move forward with boosters in the United States, but that is an ongoing debate,” said the NIH director. , Dr. Francis Collins, on “Good Morning America” ​​on ABC.

“Let me just be clear, however, that in fact existing approved vaccines in the United States, Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, have great efficacy against [the] Delta [variant]. There is no reason to rush at this time for a recall decision, but we will be monitoring this on a day-to-day basis, ”he added.

In recent days, however, other members of the administration have stepped up their messages that it is important that immunocompromised people who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 receive a booster.

“It is extremely important for us to take steps to ensure that these individuals receive their boosters, and we are currently working on it, and we will … implemented as quickly as possible, because for us and for the individuals involved, it is a very high priority, ”Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Thursday in a White House briefing.

There are at least 7 million immunocompromised adults in the United States, according to the CDC.