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FDA Authorizes Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters for Certain Individuals

For CEOs, CMOs, CNOs, COOs, and infection prevention, quality & patient safety, employee safety staff

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.