A panel of advisers has just voted to recommend a Moderna booster - the latest on who's eligible.
www.bbc.com
Pfizer
Numbers: To date, more than 103 million US residents have been fully vaccinated with two Pfizer doses, while approximately 7 million have received boosters.
Efficacy: Data shows that a full dosage of the Pfizer vaccine is 88% effective in preventing hospital admission. CDC data released in mid-September shows that the vaccine's effectiveness falls to 77% after 120 days.
Company Claim About Booster: Pfizer has been supportive of the need for boosters, with CEO Albert Bourla telling reporters that studies have shown that the vaccine's effectiveness steadily declines to about 84% for vaccinated people four to six months after receiving their second dose.
FDA Ruling: Pfizer boosters have been approved for older adults and 50 to 64 year olds with medical conditions, as well as adults with underlying medical conditions or those who live and work in high-risk settings.
Moderna
Numbers: To date, more than 69 million people have been fully vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine, with about 1.5 million people having received Moderna booster jabs.
Efficacy: New data shows that Moderna's vaccine was about 93% effective at reducing the risk of being admitted to hospital with Covid-19. It stays about 92% effective after 120 days.
Company Claim About Booster: Last month, Moderna said that a half-dose booster jab would boost antibodies to a higher point than the initial two shots and believes a booster will be necessary "prior to the winter season". Currently, Moderna boosters have only been approved for certain people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients or transplant recipients.
FDA Ruling: On Thursday, a panel of FDA advisers unanimously voted to recommend a single half-dose booster for the elderly, the immunocompromised or those in high-risk jobs or living situations.
The FDA must now make a final decision on whether to authorise Moderna boosters. If authorised by the agency, a panel of CDC advisers will meet to discuss who will receive them.
Johnson & Johnson
Numbers: Nearly 15 million US residents have received a Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine, which is administered in one dose. CDC data shows that only about 9,800 people have so far received J&J boosters.
Efficacy: Research shows that the J&J vaccine is 71% effective in preventing the need for hospital care. After just 28 days, the vaccine's effectiveness falls to 68%.
Company Claim About Booster: Like Moderna, J&J has submitted a request for emergency use authorisation for its booster jab. In late September, the company said that research shows that a booster provides a nine-fold increase in antibodies. Four weeks later, it had climbed to a 12-fold increase.
FDA Ruling: On Friday, a panel of FDA advisers unanimously voted to recommend boosters for the one-shot J&J vaccine. The panel recommended that boosters be given to anyone over 18, at least two months after the initial dose.
www.tampabay.com
www.yalemedicine.org
