COVID-19 Vaccine: FDA Might Approve Mixing Booster Shots

The Food and Drug Administration might approve the administration of COVID-19 vaccine booster injections of a different vaccine type from the one used in the first doses. The claim came from two people familiar with the situation. 

The sources corroborated The New York Times‘ story on Monday that the FDA was considering the action.

Pfizer Vaccines (Photo: Paul Hennessy/LightRocket)

Experts used the term “Mix and match” to describe this strategy. The technique was shown to be both safe and effective in a research conducted by the National Institutes of Health.

According to the sources, FDA might make an announcement as early as Wednesday.

State Health Officials Wants FDA To Allow Mix and Match COVID-19 Booster Shots

Since last month, when the FDA authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech booster shot, which must be given at least six months after the first series, health authorities have been requesting such flexibility.

According to The Washington Post, an FDA advisory committee recommended that Moderna and Johnson & Johnson booster injections be approved for emergency use.

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Experts said mixing and matching booster shots in vaccination clinics in locations like elderly homes would be easier. According to the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, instead of forcing vaccination providers to provide doses from all three firms, they may bring whatever they have on hand.

‘Mix and Match’ for COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters To Give Physicians More Freedom To Give Injections

Sources said the procedure must proceed quickly to provide physicians more freedom. They explained that some individuals have already begun receiving booster injections that vary from their original vaccines.

According to the same New York Times report, the government would not advocate one kind over another. They might still specify that booster injections should utilize the same vaccine as initial immunizations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said health officials gave the Pfizer vaccine to more than 104 million fully vaccinated individuals in the country.

According to the CDC, more than 69 million individuals received the Moderna vaccination and more than 15 million received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

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