• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

FDA panel recommends limiting Pfizer booster shots to Americans 65 and older, high risk

by Matthew Woodruff, Emory University
September 21, 2021
9
SHARES
173
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn
Courtesy of the CDC No third dose for now. AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty

The key scientific advisory council of the Food and Drug Administration has voted to deny use of a “booster” shot of Pfizer’s mRNA vaccine to the general public—a move that will likely disappoint some public health experts pushing for a third dose to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

In a 16-2 vote on Sept. 17, 2021, an independent committee of physicians, scientists, and public health experts recommended against full use of the third dose of the vaccine, which now goes by the brand name “Comirnaty.” However, the panel did recommend the shot for Americans age 65 and older or those at high risk for severe COVID-19.

In recommending against the shot for the general public, the committee cited reasons such as lack of sufficient safety data in younger age groups as well as indications that the initial doses still seem to be providing robust protection against severe illness leading to hospitalization and death. The panel also agreed in a poll – but not a formal vote – that boosters would be beneficial for certain populations, such as health care workers and others at high risk for occupational exposure.

Although the vote is not binding, it is likely that it will form the basis of a formal FDA recommendation.

As an immunologist who studies COVID-19 and immune responses to vaccination, I saw the push for a booster as predictable, although the outcome of the vote was always far from certain. Over the past year, significant research and public reporting have focused on the durability of the immune response following the first and second doses of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. This work has been critical to scientists’ understanding of how long the immune responses from vaccination can provide protection, and whether that protection extends to new and emerging variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Waning antibodies

The good news is that the mRNA vaccines do appear to provide continued efficacy against serious illness or death caused by new strains of the coronavirus, including the highly infectious delta variant.

But data on the longevity of this protection has been more mixed and is still limited in scope. Although there are indications that immune “memory” is being established in vaccine recipients—almost certainly providing partial protection in the long term—the antibodies responsible for stopping the virus in its tracks before infection occurs appear to wane over the course of months following the second dose.

This is not surprising to immunologists and does not mean the vaccine isn’t working. Antibodies wane as a normal course of an immune response to any vaccine. This is why you need a tetanus booster every decade or so, and why the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine is administered in three doses – not just two.

The question is simply how fast antibodies decline, and at what point they no longer provide adequate protection. At that point, an additional dose of the vaccine is recommended to “boost” the antibody numbers back up to protective levels. In this case, widespread reporting of breakthrough infections—infections in individuals who have been fully vaccinated – and research citing the possibility of declining immunity in populations vaccinated early in the pandemic brought discussions of the need for boosters quickly to the forefront.

Against this backdrop of mixed data, the FDA panel had to weigh the risks and benefits surrounding booster shots. While the third dose of vaccine would have been identical to those already fully approved— and as such deemed safe—they would not be without side effects similar to those seen in the first and second doses.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

In addition, serious conditions such as myocarditis—an inflammation of the heart—that have been recorded in rare and isolated cases after the initial vaccine shots will likely occur following the booster as well. This, in addition to a debate around the absolute benefit of a third shot to maintain current protection levels in otherwise healthy vaccinated individuals, has led many public health officials to express concern that the review is premature and risks further confusing and alienating an already divided American public.

Separating politics from data

With the Biden administration having already publicly backed a third dose for all vaccinated Americans in August, the committee was tasked with separating the politics from the data to weigh in on whether the benefits of a booster shot outweighed the risks to an already-hesitant American public.

In rejecting the proposal, the FDA panel has signaled its confidence in the original vaccination course among healthy individuals, and will wait for additional data before identifying waning antibody levels as a significant threat to public safety. However, its support for boosting those at high risk for exposure to COVID-19 suggests a recognition that additional shots may yet be necessary to fully protect the public at large.

Matthew Woodruff, Instructor of Human Immunology, Emory University

- ADVERTISEMENT -

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

The Haiti Support Project condemns mass deportation of Haitians

Next Post

Free prostate cancer screening event on Sept. 22

Matthew Woodruff, Emory University

You Might Also Like

Feds OK over-the-counter sale of overdose-reversing drug
Health & Wellness

Feds OK over-the-counter sale of overdose-reversing drug

New funding targets opioid prevention, treatment in communities of color
Local

New funding targets opioid prevention, treatment in communities of color

Experiencing hair loss? Don’t panic!
Health & Wellness

Experiencing hair loss? Don’t panic!

People with long Covid face barriers to government disability benefits
COVID-19

People with long Covid face barriers to government disability benefits

Long Covid: What is it?
COVID-19

Long Covid: What is it?

President Biden tests positive for COVID
National

President Biden tests positive for COVID

Next Post
Free prostate cancer screening event on Sept. 22

Free prostate cancer screening event on Sept. 22

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

The Latest News

Holloman giving back 

Holloman giving back 

‘Flintstones’ Lynx legend thrives on high expectations

‘Flintstones’ Lynx legend thrives on high expectations

Summer Guide: June 1-7 events

2023 Summer Guide: June 8-14

Outspoken public defender faces ‘star chamber’ reappointment (updated)

The case for juvenile justice reform 

A Night With The River marks the end of annual all-night arts festival

A Night With The River marks the end of annual all-night arts festival

7 ways to celebrate Prince’s enduring legacy 

7 ways to celebrate Prince’s enduring legacy 

Minneapolis
◉
75°
Partly Cloudy
5:26 am8:56 pm CDT
ThuFriSatSunMon
82/59°F
86/64°F
79/57°F
73/54°F
79/61°F
Weather forecast Minneapolis, Minnesota ▸
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Apr 13
April 13 @ 7:30 pm-June 10 @ 9:00 pm Recurring

Wit by Margaret Edson

Apr 14
April 14 @ 9:00 am-August 12 @ 5:00 pm

Paper Is People: Decolonizing Global Paper Cultures

Jun 8
10:00 am-4:00 pm Recurring

Preserving Nature Photos by Walter Griffin: REFLECTIONS

Jun 8
2:00 pm-6:00 pm

Juneteenth Business Forum

View Calendar

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...