FDA advisory panel unanimously endorses Moderna’s Covid vaccine booster for some groups

AFood and Drug Administration advisory panel voted unanimously Thursday in favor of authorizing booster shots of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine to people 65 and older, those 18 to 64 with risk factors for severe Covid-19, and those whose jobs put them at high risk of serious complications of Covid-19, such as health care workers.

After hours of deliberation, the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted 19-to-0 that the Moderna booster should be authorized for these groups. The panel also discussed at what point boosters should be recommended to all adults over 18.

The Moderna booster consists of a 50-microgram dose, half the normal dose of the shot.

The groups recommended for the Moderna booster are the same ones authorized for the booster made by Pfizer and BioNTech.