The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to allow for a booster dose for certain individuals, including health care workers.
Specifically, the EUA allows for use of a single booster dose, to be administered at least six months after completion of the primary series, for individuals:
- Ages 65 and older
- Ages 18-64 who are at high risk of severe COVID-19
- Ages 18-64 whose frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 puts them at high risk of serious complications of COVID-19, including severe COVID-19
Notably, the amended EUA authorizes boosters only for the Pfizer vaccine and for a more limited group of individuals than previously called for by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.