Topline
Adults who received the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine series now only need to wait five months before receiving a booster dose, the Food and Drug Administration said on Friday, days after the agency shortened the period between Pfizer Covid-19 jabs, and as cases surge amid the spread of the omicron variant.
A nurse shows the vial of the Moderna novel Coronavirus vaccine as public transport drivers and … [+]
Key Facts
The FDA said shortening the length of time from six to five months between Moderna doses will boost waning immunity and provide better protection against the omicron variant for individuals age 18 and older.
Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a statement the timing update “brings consistency in the timing for administration of a booster dose,” as the agency adjusted the period for Pfizer vaccines earlier this week.
About 35% of people in the U.S. have received a booster dose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Key Background
The U.S. is facing a skyrocketing number of cases as the omicron variant spreads. The country reported a record 1.08 million cases on Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University, and is reporting a seven-day average of 610,989 daily new cases as of Thursday. Omicron was responsible for 95% of new cases in the country for the week of December 26 – January 1, according to the CDC. While early studies have shown omicron may cause less severe disease than other variants, experts have warned against dismissing omicron as mild, as the number of cases in the U.S. could be enough to overwhelm hospital systems.
Big Number
131,972 patients were hospitalized for Covid-19 as of Thursday, according to the Department of Human and Health Services, up from 103,329 on Monday.
Surprising Fact
The number of children admitted to the hospital in the U.S. for Covid-19 are reaching record numbers. The average number of children admitted to the hospital per day reached 672 in the week ending Sunday, according to the CDC—a 114% increase from the previous week.
Sfurther Reading
Record 1 Million New Covid-19 Cases Reported In The US On Monday (Forbes)
Omicron Variant Now Linked To 95% Of US Covid Cases, CDC Estimates (Forbes)
FDA Authorizes Pfizer Booster Shot For Children Ages 12 To 15 (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/annakaplan/2022/01/07/fda-cuts-moderna-booster-waiting-period-from-six-months-to-five/