U.S. Cannot Offer Booster Shots of COVD Vaccines

As delta variant cases continue to increase, talk of booster shots continues to grow. However, currently makers of the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are not authorized to offer booster shots.

Several countries have started offering booster shots of the Pfizer vaccine, currently booster shots of the vaccine.

According to the New York Times, Germany, following Israel’s example, said this week that it would start offering booster shots to some higher-risk citizens. France, Russia and Hungary are doing the same. Britain has already purchased 60 million extra Pfizer vaccine doses in case vulnerable people need a third shot this fall.

The nations are offering boosters as the delta variant continues to pick up steam around the world.

On Wednesday, China placed millions of people on lockdown, including Beijing, where rail, bus and air travel with areas that have detected new cases has been curtailed.

Only “essential travelers” are allowed to enter as long as they provide a negative test, The Guardian reported on Wednesday.

The CDC has not provided any recommendations for a COVID-19 booster shot to date.

“This pathogen’s particularly adaptive and infectious behavior tells us that we can expect to see this trend of intermittent peaks until we have enough of the world vaccinated (at least 80%) to keep this voracious virus under control,” said Dr. Kimberly Shriner, infectious disease physician at Huntington Hospital.

According to Shriner, It’s an especially dangerous time to be unvaccinated, as nationwide we are seeing 96% of COVID-19 deaths occur in unvaccinated individuals.

“However, even vaccinated individuals need to practice safe behaviors such as masking and distancing to avoid infection. While the vaccine is highly effective at preventing severe illness and death, vaccinated individuals can still get sick – and transmit the virus to others.”

According to Pasadena Public Health Director Dr. Ying-Ying Goh, the Food and Drug Administration has not authorized booster shots in the US.

“ At this time, ACIP [Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices] has not recommended booster shots and the FDA has not authorized this use,” Goh said. “The US vaccine supply is from the federal government and is subject to use in accordance with these federal agencies.”

According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation could see as many as 100,000 to 200,000 new COVID-19 cases a day.

“So, for your benefit (and to protect those who are unable to get a vaccine due to age or medical condition) please practice safe behaviors such as distancing, masking, and washing your hands,” said Shriner. “Avoid non-essential travel, sporting events and concerts as well as indoor gatherings.”