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On Wednesday, the United States authorized the administration of a third dose of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine to people 65 years of age and over and those “at risk”, according to the US Food and Drug Administration.
The administration said in a statement that this booster dose can be given to people in these two categories 6 months after receiving the second dose, according to AFP.
“High risk”
He also added that people between the ages of 18 and 64 could receive a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine if there was a “high risk” of developing severe symptoms of the disease, or if their “repeated exposure” to the virus caused them to suffer. puts at a “high risk of serious complications” related to the disease.
The statement also quotes Janet Woodcock, acting chief of the Food and Drug Administration, as saying that this category includes “health workers, teachers, school staff, supermarket workers, homeless shelters, prisons and others”.
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A setback for the Biden administration
While this category appears broad, the move represents a setback for President Joe Biden’s administration, which announced in mid-August that U.S. officials would allow the booster dose to be administered to all adults.
The government’s statement that day also drew much criticism as it appeared to anticipate and cloud the decision of the country’s scientific bodies. But the Food and Drug Administration ultimately decided to follow the advice of its advisory group.
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It should be noted that this committee, made up of epidemiologists and infectious disease specialists, announced last week that it recommends giving the booster dose to specific groups of the population, including the elderly and medical workers. health.
A panel of experts from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) will meet Wednesday and Thursday to discuss this issue, after which health authorities will issue detailed recommendations for professionals who will oversee the administration of these boosters. specifying in particular what is specifically covered by the term “high risk”.
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