U.S. health regulators cleared use of retooled Covid-19 vaccines that target the latest versions of Omicron, in preparation for a fall booster campaign that could start within days.

The action by the Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday permits people 12 years and older to receive an additional shot of the vaccine from Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE, and people 18 and older to receive a Moderna Inc. booster at least two months after their most recent dose.

Key elements of this action:

• The fall booster campaign could start within days [once CDC gives final authorization, which is expected by the end the week; CDC’s advisory committee meets tomorrow and Friday].
• There is no recommendation for prioritization for those who are most at risk. Pfizer’s booster is available to people 12 years and older, and Moderna’s booster is cleared for ages 18 and up.
• The booster is being made available to anyone who has been vaccinated previously, at least 2 months after their most recent dose.
• The U.S. government has secured 66 million doses of the new Moderna vaccine, and 105 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
• These boosters are available at no charge.

Convincing people to get boosted will likely be a challenge. The article references a July 2022 Kaiser Family Foundation survey that found 57% of vaccinated people said they wouldn’t get a booster because they believed their initial vaccination or prior infection provided enough protection. 52% just didn’t want a shot.

Read the full article here.