Headline RoundupSeptember 13th, 2021

Top FDA and WHO Scientists Call COVID-19 Booster Shots Unnecessary For Most Americans At This Time

Summary from the AllSides News Team

An international group of scientists published a paper Monday that suggests more scientific evidence is needed to justify giving booster shots to most Americans at this time. Co-authors included Marion Gruber and Phil Krause, two senior FDA officials who are leaving the organization later this fall over frustrations with the Biden administration’s "premature" booster plan, along with several scientists from the World Health Organization (WHO). The report concludes that vaccine "efficacy against severe disease remains high" except for individuals with compromised immune systems, and highlights how "the unvaccinated are still the major drivers of transmission" during this stage of the pandemic. WHO scientists argued that the U.S. should prioritize giving doses to countries with low vaccination rates to reduce the risk of serious illness and emerging variants. The paper also emphasized the importance of creating "clear public health messaging before boosting" to mitigate vaccine hesitancy. While the CDC and FDA advised the White House to slow down its vaccine booster plan earlier this month, the Biden administration has yet to delay its plans to begin widely offering the third shots on Sept. 20. The FDA will meet with an outside panel of experts on Sept. 17 to further review the Pfizer/BioNTech booster shot.

The Biden administration's booster shot plan continues to divide voices across the spectrum. Left-rated outlets were more likely to suggest that the evidence is "evolving," noting the similar strategy used to distribute annual flu shots. Some right-rated voices expressed support for prioritizing U.S. booster shots over helping other nations.

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